Men's Soccer Ranked Second in the Nation

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July 27, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s soccer team has been picked No. 2 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in its 1998 preseason poll. The Cavaliers’, who posted a 19-4-3 record last season, are one of four Atlantic Coast Conference teams to be ranked in the top 25, along with No. 11 Maryland, No. 12 Clemson and No. 14 Duke.

In addition to Maryland, Clemson and Duke, Virginia will face four other teams which are ranked in the preseason poll. The Cavaliers are set to face No. 5 American, No. 18 William & Mary and No. 24 Virginia Commonwealth, in addition to taking on No. 9 St. John’s in an exhibition game.

The Cavaliers are ranked behind only UCLA, which defeated UVa 2-0 in last season’s NCAA title game. Virginia returns seven starters from last year’s squad, including two-time All-American Matt Chulis (Central Islip, N.Y.) and 1997 ACC Rookie of the Year Jason Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.).

1998 NSCAA Preseason Men’s Top 25

    Rank   School                1997 Record   Points     1.    UCLA                      22-2-0    320     2.    VIRGINIA                  19-4-3    299     3.    Indiana                   23-1-0    293     4.    Saint Louis               16-5-4    268     5.    American                  17-4-4    247     6.    Southern Methodist        19-2-1    246     7.    Washington                15-3-2    197     8.    South Carolina            16-3-1    179     9.    St. John's                18-4-2    174    10.    Creighton                 16-5-1    166    11.    Maryland                  16-6-1    157    12.    Clemson                   11-7-3    153    13.    South Florida             13-7-2    121    14.    Duke                      15-5-0    91    15.    Bowling Green             18-6-0    60    16.    Dartmouth                 10-4-4    57    17.    Florida International     14-6-1    54    18.    William & Mary            14-6-2    52    19.    Rutgers                   14-7-2    46    20.    Georgetown                15-7-0    40    21.    Stanford                  13-5-2    36    22.    Boston University         14-6-2    19    23.    Southwest Missouri State  13-5-3    18    24.    Virginia Commonwealth     15-4-4    15    25.    UNC Charlotte             12-7-2    7