Men's Soccer: WVU Ranked No. 15 Nationally
August 12, 2008 06:41 PM | General
By Ira Green for MSNsportsNET.com
August 12, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team earned the No. 15 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas poll today. This marks the second consecutive year that the Mountaineers have earned a ranking in the Top 15 of the preseason poll.
Under head coach Marlon LeBlanc, WVU has been ranked in the nation’s Top 25 since the first week of the 2006 season, an accumulation of 25-straight weeks.
The Mountaineers, who reached as high as No. 5 in the poll on Sept. 18, 2007, finished the season ranked No. 13.
Also announced today were the BIG EAST men’s soccer preseason rankings and awards. The league voted West Virginia to finish fourth in the Blue Division, behind Connecticut, Notre Dame and Providence.
The Mountaineers concluded the 2007 campaign with a 14-6-2 overall record and a 7-3-1 conference mark, good enough for third in the division. The squad, which earned a first-round bye at the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, reached the ‘Sweet 16’ for the first time since 1981.
WVU opened preseason camp on Sunday and will face Virginia in its first of two exhibition matches on Saturday. The match against the Cavaliers at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
2008 BIG EAST Preseason Rankings - Blue Division
1. Connecticut
2. Notre Dame
3. Providence
4. West Virginia
5. Seton Hall
6. Georgetown
7. Marquette
8. Pittsburgh
