Women's Soccer Earns Preseason Ranking

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July 27, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia women’s soccer team has been picked No. 6 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in its 1998 preseason poll. The Cavaliers’, who posted a 14-5-2 record last season, are one of five Atlantic Coast Conference teams to be ranked in the top 25, along with No. 1 North Carolina, No. 10 Duke, No. 14 Clemson and No. 18 Maryland.

Virginia will face a total of 10 teams which are ranked in the preseason poll. In addition to North Carolina, Duke, Clemson and Maryland, the Cavaliers are set to take on No. 7 Portland, No.13 William & Mary, No. 21 George Mason, No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Penn State.

Virginia returns eight starters from last year’s squad, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Including among the returning players are All-Americans Angela Hucles (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Karem Esteva (Westport, Conn.).

1998 NSCAA Preseason Women’s Top 25

 Rank  School           1997 Record    Points  Final 1997 Rank 1.    North Carolina    27-0-1         225        1 2.    Notre Dame        23-1-1         213        2 3.    Santa Clara       20-3-1         210        3 4.    Connecticut       23-4-0         188        5 5.    Florida           20-3-1         181        9 6.    Virginia          14-5-2         160       13 7.    Portland          14-5-0         159        6 8.    Nebraska          18-4-0         156        7 9.    Hartford          19-2-1         150       1010.    Duke              15-6-0         146       1211.    Texas A&M         18-3-0         144        412.    Harvard           13-4-2         119       1713.    William & Mary    20-5-0         114        714.    Clemson           15-7-0         113       1415.    Minnesota         18-3-2          84       11       UCLA              19-3-0          84       1817.    Michigan          18-4-1          81       1518.    Maryland          12-9-3          76       1619.    Brigham Young     19-4-0          50       2320.    Southern Methodist17-5-1          46       1821.    George Mason      14-6-4          45       2522.    Massachusetts     17-5-0          42       2023.    Vanderbilt        14-8-0          41       2224.    Stanford          11-7-1          22        -25.    Penn State        15-7-1          20       21

Others receiving votes: Southern California, UNC Greensboro,James Madison, Georgia, Washington, Baylor, Wake Forest,San Diego.