<?xml:namespace prefix="st1"?>Lincoln - The University of Nebraska soccer team is ranked No. 12 in the National Soccer Coaches of America/adidas preseason national rankings released Monday afternoon.
John Walker's Huskers finished the 2002 season ranked 13th with a 16-6-3 record and their seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Senior Christy Harms will lead the Huskers as they face four opponents ranked in the preseason top 25, including North Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas and Michigan.
NU has proven its preseason records, finishing in the final NSCAA Top 15 for the last seven seasons. The Huskers replaced seniors Christine Latham, Breanna Boyd, Kori Saunders and Leah Lamale with a class of 10 freshmen who make up the No. 8 recruiting class in the country for the 2003 season.
Nebraska was picked third in the Big 12 coaches poll that was also released Monday by the conference office. NU received 88 points and two first-place votes. The Huskers have won three conference titles and five of the seven Big 12 Tournament crowns, including the tournament championship in 2002.
Texas was picked to win the 2003 Big 12 soccer title with 96 points and seven first-place votes, while Texas A&M was chosen second with 89 points and two first-place votes. Missouri and Colorado rounded out the top five with 63 and 62 points, respectively.
Nebraska will host its annual Meet N Beat the Huskers Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Huskers also play host to Denver Friday at 7 p.m. in the final exhibition contest before beginning the regular season with DePaul, on Friday, Aug. 29.
NSCAA/adidas National Rankings
Rank
School
W-L-T
1.
Santa Clara
20-5-1
2.
North Carolina
21-2-4
Portland
20-4-2
4.
Stanford
21-2-0
5.
UCLA
18-4-0
6.
Texas A&M
20-5-1
7.
Penn State
19-4-1
8.
Connecticut
21-3-1
9.
Texas
15-5-1
10.
Notre Dame
13-8-0
11.
Virginia
13-7-2
12.
Nebraska
16-6-3
13.
Pepperdine
18-2-2
14.
Tennessee
18-6-1
15.
Florida State
13-7-3
16.
California
12-8-1
17.
Michigan
16-6-2
18.
West Virginia
18-3-1
19.
Southern California
11-8-3
20.
Clemson
14-7-0
21.
Florida
10-10-2
22.
Southern Methodist
13-6-4
23.
Maryland
13-8-1
24.
Brigham Young
16-6-0
25.
Purdue
14-5-3
Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll
No.
Team
Points
1.
Texas (7)
96
2.
Texas A&M (2)
89
3.
Nebraska (2)
88
4.
Missouri
63
5.
Colorado
55
6.
Oklahoma
55
7.
Kansas
53
8.
Oklahoma State
35
9.
Iowa State
29
10.
Baylor
25
11.
Texas Tech
10
First place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players