KANSAS CITY, Mo. ---- The NAIA released its first of three Modified Ratings Percentage Index rankings for the 2012 season, and the Auburn Montgomery men's soccer team received the top spot for the first time in program history.

"This is an exciting day for our program," Head Coach Wulf Koch said. "We have been third in the past three NAIA polls, but this really shows that we have played a tough schedule and have taken care of business."

The MRPI was introduced in 2010 to help determine seeding and at-large bids for the postseason NAIA National Tournament. It ranks teams through their modified winning percentage, their opponents' winning percentage and the cumulative ranking points from the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Warhawks have an MRPI of 0.889, coming in just ahead of No. 2 Lindsey Wilson. The Blue Raiders, who are on a 33-match win streak, have a score of 0.884.

After the top two teams, there is significant drop-off to Concordia (0.809) at No. 3. Southern States Athletic Conference member Belhaven and Rio Grande round out the top five. Four SSAC programs are represented in the top 12.

AUM is off to a 6-1-1 start, allowing only four goals in those eight matches. Nine different players have scored goals so far this year. The team began conference play last weekend by winning a pair of matches against Truett-McConnell and Southern Wesleyan.

The NAIA releases the final two indexes on October 23 and November 11, respectively.

2012 Men's Soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index