Nebraska's Top 10 most improved boys soccer programs

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As the Nebraska boys high school soccer season prepares to hit the stretch run, we've crunched the numbers in an attempt to determine which programs have made the most substantial climbs in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings over a year ago.

Two criteria were used in determining which of the 64 schools that play boys soccer in the Cornhusker State have improved the most over the course of a year, and Lincoln North Star was the big winner in both categories.

The most important yardstick used is the number of rungs a school has risen in the MaxPreps Nebraska Computer Rankings compared to a year ago. The Navigators climbed into the Top 10 at No. 8 in Thursday's latest rankings, 37 spots above the 45th place they rested at last season.

The second benchmark, used primarily for tiebreaker purposes, is how many games a program improved in its won-loss record over the previous season. Of the schools that cracked this week's Top 10, Lincoln North Star and No. 6 Platteview tied for the top spot with a 6.5 game improvement.

Beatrice and Ralston both came up big winners as well, improving their rankings climbing 20 and 19 spots, respectively. Lexington and Fremont tied for the fourth spot with 18-rung improvements. The Minutemen won the tiebreaker by improving their record by four games compared to Fremont's three-game enhancement.

The Minutemen also earned the highest ranking of team's in this Top 10 in this week's poll at No. 4. Omaha Skutt Catholic, which wound up No. 9 in this Top 10, was right behind Lexington at No. 5. Three members of this Top 10 have turned in winning seasons so far this year after producing sub-.500 marks a year ago.

1. North Star (Lincoln) +37
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 45th (4-10)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 8th (9-2)

2. Beatrice +20
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 55th (5-14)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 35th (4-6)

3. Ralston +19
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 37th (9-9)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 18th (8-4)

4. Lexington +18
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 22nd (11-9)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 4th (12-2)

5. Fremont +18
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 43rd (7-10)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 25th (8-5)

6. Platteview (Springfield) +16
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 63rd (1-14)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 47th (6-6)

7. Roncalli Catholic (Omaha) +16
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 60th (2-14)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 44th (5-8)

8. Lutheran/Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk) +16
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 32nd (8-8)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 16th (9-1)

9. Skutt Catholic (Omaha) +16
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 21st (9-9)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 5th (8-3)

10. Bellevue West (Bellevue) +15
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 42nd (3-13)
2016-17 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 27th (8-6)