The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Ranked Preseason No. 1 by Soccer America
August 26 | Men's Soccer
Fresh off its 3-1 exhibition victory over VCU, the University of
Akron men's soccer team has been ranked preseason No. 1 by
Soccer America.
The Zips, who advanced to the national championship game for the
second time in school history in 2009, are now ranked No. 1 in
three of the four major polls released to date after earning the
top spot in preseason rankings from the National Soccer Coaches
Association of America (NSCAA) and the College Soccer
News. UA is currently ranked No. 2 - behind North Carolina -
by Top Drawer Soccer.
While all polls are credible, the NCAA recognizes both the NSCAA
and Soccer America polls in its final standings. The Zips
were ranked No. 1 in Soccer America's final Top 25 at the
end of the 2009 regular season, after racing to the College Cup
with a perfect 23-0-0 record.
North Carolina, which Akron beat in a shootout in the semifinals at the Men's College Cup, is No. 2 in the preseason rankings, while Virginia, which beat the Zips on penalty kicks in the final, is No. 3.
UA and UNC will meet in the first game of the regular season in
Chapel Hill on Sept. 3. In all, the Tar Heels are one of three
Akron opponents (No. 6 Tulsa and No. 7 Wake Forest) listed in the
top 10 and one of six (No. 14 Ohio State, No. 17 Penn State and No.
23 Michigan State) ranked in the top 25.
The Zips will travel to Tampa to take on No. 19 South Florida
Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET) in their final exhibition contest of
the preseason.
Soccer
America Men's Preseason Top 25
RANK/TEAM (2009 RECORD)
1. Akron (23-1-1)
2. North Carolina (16-2-4)
3. Virginia (19-3-3)
4. Maryland (15-6-2)
5. UC Santa Barbara (17-5-2)
6. Tulsa (15-5-2)
7. Wake Forest (17-4-3)
8. Duke (14-7-0)
9. Boston College (14-9-0)
10. Connecticut (11-4-4)
11. UCLA (12-4-4)
12. Monmouth (18-2-2)
13. Stanford (12-6-2)
14. Ohio State (12-5-4)
15. St. John's (9-3-9)
16. Northwestern (11-5-4)
17. Penn State (12-8-2)
18. Notre Dame (11-8-4)
19. South Florida (14-4-3)
20. Louisville (13-3-4)
21. Indiana (12-10-1)
22. Portland (12-6-5)
23. Michigan State (11-8-2)
24. UNC Wilmington (14-3-5)
25. Saint Louis (15-7-0)
