Syracuse is ranked No. 2 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, released Tuesday afternoon. For the third straight week, SU has set a new highest ranking in program history.

After being ranked No. 4 last week, Syracuse (11-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast) defeated Albany and Wake Forest. Penn State and UCLA — ranked No. 3 and No. 2 last week, respectively — both lost, while No. 1 Washington tied with then-No. 23 Oregon State.

Syracuse entered the season unranked in the polls but has shot to the top two in just a span of 12 games, during which the Orange has outscored its opponents 20-3.

When asked on Monday what the country’s top ranking would mean for his team, SU head coach Ian McIntyre said although rankings are fairly unimportant, they represent how far the program has come.

“The questions a couple years ago were, ‘Are you going to win your second game of the season?’” McIntyre said. “Now to have these kinds of questions, these are great questions.”