Maryland Men's Soccer Starts Season At No. 10
8/26/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's soccer team has been ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Eight of the Terps' opponents this season are ranked in the poll, including four teams ranked in the NSCAA's Top 10.
Maryland's ranking is it's highest since the Sept. 4 poll of the 2001 season when they were ranked No. 5. The Terps split their exhibition decisions to start the 2002 season, losing 1-0 to DC United and defeating Ohio State 3-1 in the College Cup Preview held at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Of the Terps' eight opponents that are ranked in the preseason poll, four of the teams are ACC foes. Defending NCAA Champion North Carolina is the Terps' highest ranked opponent at No. 4. ACC rival Virginia is No. 5, with Connecticut coming in at No. 6 and Clemson one slot ahead of the Terps at No. 9. Penn State, one of the three teams in the Maryland/FILA Classic, is ranked 17th in the poll, with Kentucky at No. 20. Loyola, who eliminated the Terps from the NCAA Tournament last year is at No. 22 and Wake Forest tied for 24th.
The Terrapins are coming off an 11-9-1 record in 2001, and made it to the NCAA second round before being knocked-out by Loyola in overtime. The Terps have no seniors this season, but because of the eight medical redshirt seasons that team members have taken, Maryland still brings a plethora of talent and college playing experience to the field when they open the regular season on Aug. 30 at the Virginia Soccer Classic in Charlottesville, Va.. The Terps face Rhode Island on Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and No. 20 Kentucky on Sept. 1 at noon.
2002 PRESEASON NSCAA MEN'S SOCCER POLL Rank School 2001 Record 1. Indiana 18-4-1 2. Stanford 19-2-1 3. St. John's 17-3-3 4. North Carolina 21-4-0 5. Virginia 17-2-1 6. Connecticut 15-5-2 7. Rutgers 15-7-3 8. Southern Methodist 21-1-0 9. Clemson 19-5-0 10. MARYLAND 11-9-1 11. Saint Louis 18-2-0 12. Washington 13-6-0 13. UCLA 12-7-4 14. Fairleigh Dickinson 17-7-0 15. Alabama-Birmingham 15-6-0 16. South Carolina 12-5-2 17. Penn State 14-5-1 18. Boston College 10-8-0 19. Creighton 11-9-1 20. Kentucky 14-6-1 21. Furman 17-5-0 22. Loyola 17-2-2 23. Syracuse 7-8-1 24. San Diego 12-4-1 24. Wake Forest 13-6-22002 Maryland opponents in italics.
