Stevens Men's Soccer Debuts at No. 13 in NSCAA Preseason Ranking
Mark Becker
The Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team has been ranked No. 13 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men's National Preseason Ranking.
Defending national champion Messiah College retained its No. 1 ranking, followed by 2012 NCAA Championship semifinalists Loras College at No. 2 and Williams College at No. 3. The full rankings can be viewed here. Updated rankings will be published every Tuesday throughout the season, beginning Sept. 3.
The Ducks finished the 2012 season ranked No. 10 in the nation with their second consecutive 18-3-1 record after claiming their sixth straight Empire 8 title and making their 12thstraight NCAA Championship appearance, where they defeated No. 23 Methodist University, 2-0, in the First Round and Haverford College, 3-0, in the Second Round. The Ducks posted a nine-game shutout streak that lasted over 1,000 minutes before the University of Scranton pulled the 1-0 upset in the Round of 16. Four players were named All-Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association, with returning senior back Leonardo Casas earning All-America status (NSCAA, D3Soccer.com) and returning senior goalkeeper Paul Killian tabbed the National Goalkeeper of the Year by D3Soccer.com.
Stevens opens the season at the St. Lawrence University Tournament, where the Ducks will face No. 20 St. Lawrence on Saturday, Aug. 30 and Clarkson University on Sunday, Aug. 31. Stevens will host one other preseason ranked team in No. 15 Swarthmore College later in the season on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.