Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Earn Preseason National Rankings
8/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern's men's soccer team has earned in a spot in pair of preseason national polls. The Wildcats are ranked No. 16 by College Soccer News and No. 20 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
NU completed the 2007 campaign ranked No. 22 by College Soccer News and No. 21 by the NSCAA. The Wildcats return nine starters and 16 letterwinners from last year's squad which posted a 12-5-3 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Indiana is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the preseason, coming in at No. 4 according to College Soccer News and No. 7 by the NSCAA. Ohio State is ranked ninth by the NSCAA, but College Soccer News has the Buckeyes at No. 23.
Junior defender Mark Blades (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Ignatius) has also received recognition as College Soccer News has named him a preseason third-team All-American. He is one of just three Big Ten players to earn preseason All-America honors as senior midfielder Brad Ring and junior defender Ofori Sarkodie, both of Indiana, were named to the first and second teams, respectively.
Northwestern closes out its exhibition season Saturday when it takes on St. John's in Pomona, N.J. The Wildcats open their regular season at home against San Francisco next Friday.
