Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Picked Second in Preseason ACC Men's Soccer Poll
8/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 6, 2003
Winston-Salem, N.C. -- The Wake Forest men's soccer team was selected to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason coaches poll, the league announced on Wednesday. Maryland (48 points) was picked to finish first while Wake Forest received 40 points to be projected in second place.
Virginia (30) was selected to finish third, followed by North Carolina (28) and Clemson (26). Duke (17) and NC State (7) rounded the poll.
The Deacons, ranked fourth nationally by College Soccer News, return ten starters from last year's 15-2-4 team that completed an undefeated regular season and was ranked number one for six weeks. Wake Forest did not lose an ACC regular season game in 2002.
Among those ten starters are two senior All-Americans, goalkeeper William Hesmer and forward Jeremiah White, and two additional All-ACC selections including sophomore defender Michael Parkhurst and the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, midfielder Justin Moose.
Wake Forest, led by 2002 ACC Coach of the Year Jay Vidovich, will open its exhibition schedule at home on August 18 against Charlotte. The regular season begins with the Wake Forest adidas Classic at Spry Stadium, a round-robin event that features perennial national powers Connecticut, St. John's and North Carolina. The Huskies and Red Storm are both ranked in the top 15.
Considered by many to be one of the top soccer conferences in the nation, ACC schools have won 10 national championships in men's soccer during the last 19 years.
The 2003 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll:
School Points 2002 Record/Finish1. Maryland 48 20-5, 4-2 ACC/2nd2. Wake Forest 40 15-2-4, 4-0-2 ACC/1st3. Virginia 30 15-7, 3-3 ACC/4th4. North Carolina 28 14-7-1, 3-2-1 ACC/3rd5. Clemson 26 14-5-3, 2-3-1 ACC/6th6. Duke 17 11-8-1, 3-3 ACC/5th7. NC State 7 5-14, 0-6 ACC/7th
