Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Receive Preseason No. 2 National Ranking
8/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men's soccer team will head into the 2017 season as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, according to the United Soccer Coaches poll released Thursday evening.
Previously known as the NSCAA, the United Soccer Coaches placed eight ACC teams in the top 25, including six in the top 10: Wake Forest (2), North Carolina (4), Clemson (5), Syracuse (8), Louisville (9) and Notre Dame (10).
The No. 2 preseason ranking for the Deacons is the highest since being rated No. 1 in the 2008 preseason poll after winning the 2007 national title.
Wake Forest is coming off a national runner-up finish a season ago, falling in PKs to Stanford in the championship game of the NCAA College Cup. The Deacs ended the season ranked No. 2, the same place they'll start this year. Stanford is the top-ranked team in the preseason poll.
The Deacs graduated a trio of All-Americans to the MLS in Alec Ferrell, Ian Harkes and Jacori Hayes, but also bring in the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation according to TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News.
Wake Forest begins practice next week, and also will hold its first exhibition. The Deacs travel to Furman on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. before returning home to take on UNCW on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.
The regular season opens at home against Rutgers on Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
To view the full United Soccer Coaches poll, click HERE.
