PrepsNow top 25 area rankings: boys soccer

For the first time since 2014, Cardinal Gibbons takes the top spot in the PrepsNow 20-county area boys soccer rankings.

Gibbons is followed by the two teams it beat in back-to-back rounds to reach the title game: Heritage and Green Hope.

Chapel Hill, the 3A champ, is fourth. Franklin Academy, the 1A runner-up, is 10th.

The top NCISAA area team was North Raleigh Christian, which finished fifth, and the top 2A team was Jordan-Matthews, which finished 13th.

PrepsNow Boys Soccer Top 25 Rankings

1. Cardinal Gibbons (Rec: 23-0-2. Last week: 1)

Notable: NCHSAA 4A state champs, Cap-7 Conference champs, nationally-ranked by TopDrawerSoccer.com, undefeated season.

2. Heritage (Rec: 25-2. Last week: 2)

Notable: 4A East runner-up to Cardinal Gibbons, Northern Athletic Conference champs.

3. Green Hope (Rec: 20-3-2. Last week: 3)

Notable: Tri-6 Conference champs, fell to Gibbons in the fourth round of the 4A playoffs.

4. Chapel Hill (Rec: 22-4-1. Last week: 4)

Notable: NCHSAA 3A state champs, Big Eight Conference champs.

5. North Raleigh Christian (Rec: 15-1-2. Last week: 5)

Notable: TISAC champs had an undefeated regular season, only loss came in NCISAA 3A quarterfinals.

6. Enloe (Rec: 14-4-7. Last week: 8)

Notable: Second place in Cap-7 Conference to Gibbons, fell in the third round of the 4A playoffs to Hoggard.

7. Lee County (Rec: 25-3. Last week: 7)

Notable: Fell to Chapel Hill in 3A East final, Tri-County 6 Conference champs.

8. Cleveland (Rec: 19-2-4. Last week: 9)

Notable: Fell to Chapel Hill in third round of 3A playoffs, Greater Neuse River Conference champs.

9. Panther Creek (Rec: 15-7-1. Last week: 10)

Notable: Finished second to Green Hope in the Tri-6 Conference, fell in the second round of the 4A playoffs to Ashley.

10. Franklin Academy (Rec: 23-1-1. Last week: 6)

Notable: NCHSAA 1A runner-up, undefeated regular season, NCAC conference champs.

11. Apex Friendship (Rec: 15-5. Last week: 12)

Notable: South Wake Athletic Conference champs, fell in second round of 4A playoffs to Leesville Road.

12. Cary (Rec: 14-9-1. Last week: 14)

Notable: Finished fourth in Tri-6 Conference, fell in second round of 4A playoffs to Green Hope.

13. Jordan-Matthews (Rec: 19-4-2. Last week: 11)

Notable: PAC-7 2A Conference champs, fell in fourth round of the state 2A playoffs to East Duplin.

14. Pinecrest (Rec: 20-3-1. Last week: 13)

Notable: Sandhills Athletic Conference champs, fell in second round of 4A playoffs to Page.

15. Apex (Rec: 14-8-1. Last week: 15)

Notable: Finished second in the SWAC, fell in the third round of the 4A playoffs in golden goal overtime to Heritage.

16. Carrboro (Rec: 20-3-2. Last week: 17)

Notable: Mid-State 2A Conference champs, fell in the third round of the state 2A playoffs to Jordan-Matthews.

17. Leesville Road (Rec: 10-11-3. Last week: 18)

Notable: Finished fourth in the Cap-7 Conference, fell in the third round of the 4A playoffs to Green Hope.

18. Ravenscroft (Rec: 11-8-2. Last week: 19)

Notable: Knocked off North Raleigh Christian in the NCISAA 3A quarterfinals, fell in the state semifinals.

19. Broughton (Rec: 13-8. Last week: 20)

Notable: Finished fifth in the Cap-7 Conference, fell in the second round of the 4A playoffs to Heritage.

20. East Chapel Hill (Rec: 14-7. Last week: 21)

Notable: Finished second in the Big Eight Conference, fell in the second round of the 3A playoffs to Lee County.

21. Orange (Rec: 14-7-2. Last week: 22)

Notable: Finished third in the Big Eight Conference, fell in the second round of the 3A playoffs to Northern Guilford.

22. Jordan (Rec: 9-10-2. Last week: 23)

Notable: Finished third in the Tri-6 Conference, fell in the second round of the 4A playoffs to Cardinal Gibbons.

23. Raleigh Charter (Rec: 16-5-3. Last week: 16)

Notable: Finished second in the Central Tar Heel Conference, fell in the East final to Franklin Academy.

24. Athens Drive (Rec: 12-11-2. Last week: 24)

Notable: Finished fifth in the Tri-6 Conference, fell in the second round of the 4A playoffs to Hoggard.

25. Millbrook (Rec: 12-12-1. Last week: 25)

Notable: Finished third in the Cap-7 Conference, fell in the first round of the 4A playoffs to Athens Drive.

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 11:00 AM with the headline "PrepsNow top 25 area rankings: boys soccer."