OTTAWA (CIS) - The reigning national champion Trinity Western Spartans (women) and York Lions (men) top the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport soccer rankings of 2009.

The Spartans, who joined CIS in 2001, captured their second Gladys Bean memorial trophy last fall thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Brock Badgers in the national final, which was played on their home pitch in Langley, B.C.

The defending champions received 49 points in the inaugural coaches poll and are followed in the rankings by reigning Quebec champion and CIS bronze medallist Montreal (42), 2008 Canada West champion Victoria (38), Brock (34), Ottawa (31), OUA titlist Wilfrid Laurier (28), defending AUS champion Cape Breton (22), UBC (11), Dalhousie (8) and McGill (2).

The 2009 regular season kicks off on Labour Day weekend in Ontario, with the three other CIS conferences joining the action the following week.

Ottawa is the lone Top-10 team to take the field in Week 1. The No. 5-Gee-Gees visit Nipissing on Saturday and Laurentian on Sunday.

On the men's side, the Lions claimed the second Sam Davidson memorial trophy in team history - the first since 1977 - a year ago when they edged Trinity Western 1-0 in Ottawa.

Following No. 1-York in the initial rankings are the 2008 national finalist Spartans, reigning Quebec champion and CIS bronze medallist Montreal, Laval, Carleton, defending AUS champion Dalhousie, Canada West titlist Victoria, 2008 OUA first-place finisher Wilfrid Laurier, UBC and Toronto.

No. 5-Carleton and No. 10-Toronto will be in action this weekend as the regular schedule gets under way in Ontario. The Ravens open with a pair of road games against Laurentian and Nipissing, while the Varsity Blues are set to host Trent and Queen's.

The 2009 CIS soccer season will culminate November 12-15 with the women's national championship at the University of Toronto and the men's tournament at Trinity Western.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)

1. Trinity Western (0-0-0) / 49 points / (-)
2. Montreal (0-0-0) / 42 / (-)
3. Victoria (0-0-0) / 38 / (-)
4. Brock (0-0-0) / 34 / (-)
5. Ottawa (0-0-0) / 31 / (-)
6. Wilfrid Laurier (0-0-0) / 28 / (-)
7. Cape Breton (0-0-0) / 22 / (-)
8. UBC (0-0-0) / 11 / (-)
9. Dalhousie (0-0-0) / 8 / (-)
10. McGill (0-0-0) / 2 / (-)

Others receiving votes: Sherbrooke, Toronto, Queen's, Manitoba.

MEN'S SOCCER
(regular season record) / (previous rankings)

1. York (0-0-0) / (-)
2. Trinity Western (0-0-0) / (-)
3. Montreal (0-0-0) / (-)
4. Laval (0-0-0) / (-)
5. Carleton (0-0-0) / (-)
6. Dalhousie (0-0-0) / (-)
7. Victoria (0-0-0) / (-)
8. Wilfrid Laurier (0-0-0) / (-)
9. UBC (0-0-0) / (-)
10. Toronto (0-0-0) / (-)


-CIS-