Illinois Soccer Ranked 17th
Tis the season for preseason polls, and the NSCAA released its first poll of the season today. The Fighting Illini are one of three Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, along with Penn State and Minnesota. Illinois checks in at #17 to start the year, after finishing up at #23 in the final poll of 2008. Not surprisingly, defending champion North Carolina starts the season in the poll's top spot, as the Tar Heels return nine of eleven starters from last year's title team.
I've seen one other preseason poll so far, that being the top 64 from Top Drawer Soccer, which attempts to predict the 64 teams that will qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The Illini check in at #22 in the Top Drawer rankings, and are one of five Big Ten teams listed there, along with Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan State and Michigan.
The Illini take the pitch for the first time this season this Friday in an exhibition game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at 4 pm. Illinois' lone exhibition game will take place at Illinois Soccer Stadium. The regular season starts a week later against Illinois State. It is also a home contest and can be heard live on WDWS. Former Illini Kristy Weeks will once again join me for the play-by-play.
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