CHARLOTTE - For the eighth straight poll, the Northwest Lady Rangers remain at No. 1 in the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer rankings, which were released on Monday afternoon.

Northwest improved to 10-0 on the season and 5-0 in the MACCC following a 9-0 victory against Hinds last Friday, which marked the team's sixth shutout win of the season.

Although the Lady Rangers have scored six victories against nationally-ranked opponents this season, this week's slate of matches might pose the biggest threat to the team's unbeaten season. After upsetting Mississippi Gulf Coast last Friday with a late goal in the 88th minute, Itawamba jumped from unranked to No. 20 in this week's poll, sporting a record of 8-1-1 overall.

Additionally, Holmes moved up a spot from No. 5 to No. 4 following a draw with then-No. 12 Pearl River. The Lady Rangers and Holmes met twice last season, with Northwest upsetting the previously top-ranked Lady Bulldogs in the regular season, before also earning a close victory in the MACCC/Region 23 semifinals.

Elsewhere in the national rankings, Johnson County (Kan.) remained at No. 2 this week, followed by Heartland at No. 3 and fifth-ranked Jones College, which inched up a spot from last week's No. 6 standing. Pearl River is the only other MACCC program represented in the rankings, checking in at No. 11 overall.

Tuesday's match against Itawamba is scheduled for a 5 P.M. start time, with live broadcast coverage on Ranger TV. Holmes will not provide a live stream for Friday's contest, which is slated for a 1 P.M. start.