NCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Statistical Rankings (Through Sept. 12, 2010)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Nicholls State University women's soccer team (5-1-1) boasts one of the nation's top scoring threats and one of the nation's stingiest defenses, this according to the first national statistical rankings of the season released by the NCAA on Monday.

The Colonels have been led by senior forward Kaity Mattsson, who ranks in the top ten in the nation in four major offensive categories.  The Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada native is tied for third in NCAA Division I in points (18) and goals (8).  Mattsson ranks fifith with a 2.57 point/game average (18 points/7 games) and is tied for eighth in the nation with a 1.143 goal/game average (8 goals/7games).

Mattsson's goals and points totals are currently both just one behind the national co-leaders Marky Boyce of Charleston Southern and Alex Morgan of California who have totaled 19 points and eight goals through Sunday's games.

Joining Mattsson as Colonels among the national leaders are junior midfielder Carolyn Noble and redshirt junior goalkeeper Molly Mersereau.  Noble heads into the week tied for 20th in NCAA Division I with four assists, and the Burlington, Ontario, Canada native ranks 39th in the nation with a 0.57 assist/game average. 

Narrowly missing out on a top-50 showing in the first rankings release was Mersereeau.  The Riverside, Calif. native currently ranks 52nd with a .673 goals against average.

Mersereau has recorded three of Nicholls four shutouts on the year.  As a team, the Colonels rank 30th in the nation with a .571 shutout percentage, having turned in four clean sheets (three from Mersereau, one from junior Sarah Damen) in their first seven games.

The Colonels, who are off to the best start to a season in school history and have already surpassed the school's single season wins mark after picking up their fifth win of the season at Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday will return to action next Friday when they head to Ruston to face Louisiana Tech.