Working the polls

One would think that a team that is ranked as the best in the country would obviously have the top ranking in its own state.

But not in the case of the women's soccer team.

The Falcons have been ranked No. 1 in the National Soccer Coaches of America Association/adidas poll all season long and finished there. Yet, the team finished third in the state, according to California Community College Soccer News

Why and how is this so?

A big reason has to do with power points. Similar to college football's BCS system, the power rankings are given based on the wining percentage of the opponents.

Let's say the Falcons played a team who has a good winning percentage, if they beat it then Cerritos' power points increase. If the Falcons defeat a team who has a losing record, then there's a chance they may lose power points. Strength of scheduling has a lot to do with it as well. Here are the full rules on how power points are calculated.

Another reason for the ranking is that wins and ties are factored into the calculation of the power points. The two teams ahead of the Falcons, Santa Rosa (No. 1) and Ventura (No. 2), have records of 18-2-1 and 17-1-3. Their winning percentages are at 0.8810 and 2.4810 which gives power points of 2.5952 and 2.4810.

Compare the stats of those schools to the Falcons that finished 17-0-4 with a winning percentage of 0.9048 and power ranking of 2.4548.

It appears that ties and losses play a major factor in it. The system is somewhat complicated; with that, it leaves some people happy and others disappointed.

"We're the only team in California to finish the regular season undefeated," said Javier Arellano, Cerritos women's assistant coach. "We should be No. 1 no matter what.

"But the rankings don't really matter, because we prove that we're the top team whenever we're out on the field."