The NCAA released its first RPI rankings of the 2007 men’s college soccer season on Monday.

Binghamton is ranked No. 27 in the computer formula, which uses team record and strength of schedule to help the NCAA committee determine who gets invited to the NCAA soccer championship tournament

Forty-eight teams make the cut.

There are 22 conferences and each one has an automatic bid, meaning the winner of the conference championship gets an automatic invitation to the tournament.

That leaves 26 at-large berths, which are determined by the selection committee. Remember, Binghamton sits at No. 27.

However, many of the top 20 teams tend to win their league championships, thereby opening up spots for teams on the bubble.

There’s just one problem: the NCAA doesn’t seem to look kindly upon the America East. AE teams have not earned an at-large berth since 1996. In 2005, Binghamton had a No. 36 RPI ranking and should have made the tournament based on RPI and openings, but still failed to make the cut.

The lesson? Win the conference. That’s why Saturday’s match against lowly Maine is as important as an early season win over then-No. 30 Winthrop.