Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Ranked 15th in Soccer America Preseason Rankings
8/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 18, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's soccer team continues to receive national recognition as it was picked 15th in the Soccer America preseason rankings, which were released Wednesday.
The Demon Deacons were ranked 10th in last week's NSCAA poll, which was the highest Wake Forest has ever been ranked by any major poll in the preseason.
Stanford claimed the top spot in the Soccer America rankings, followed by defending national champion North Carolina.
The Atlantic Coast Conference leads all leagues with eight teams in the Soccer America Top 25. Behind the Tar Heels, Boston College came in at No. 6 and Virginia followed at No. 7. Florida State was ranked ninth, and Maryland was picked 12th. The Deacons were selected at No. 15 with Virginia Tech close behind at No. 17. Duke rounded out the ACC teams in the rankings, coming in at No. 24.
In addition to the ACC schools, 2010 opponent South Carolina was ranked 23rd, giving the Deacons eight matches against teams in the Soccer America preseason Top 25.
Wake Forest returns five starters and 16 letterwinners from the 2009 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
In its only exhibition game of 2010, Wake Forest topped West Virginia 2-0 last Saturday on goals from Katie Stengel and Bianca D'Agostino. The Deacons travel to take on UNC Wilmington in their season opener on Friday at 7 p.m., before playing their first home match against UNC Greensboro on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
2010 Soccer America Preseason Poll
1. Stanford
2. North Carolina
3. Portland
4. Notre Dame
5. UCLA
6. Boston College
7. Virginia
8. Texas A&M
9. Florida State
10. Santa Clara
11. Penn State
12. Maryland
13. Florida
14. BYU
15. Wake Forest
16. Wisconsin
17. Virginia Tech
18. Memphis
19. Oklahoma State
20. USC
21. Dayton
22. Marquette
23. South Carolina
24. Duke
25. California
2010 opponents in italics
