Aug. 3, 2011
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the 2011 season just around the corner, the UCF men's soccer team is already starting to get the attention of national media outlets. Goal.com released its annual preseason rankings Tuesday afternoon with the Knights opening the season ranked 22nd in the nation.
Last fall, UCF cracked the nation's Top 25 for the first time. Now, they open the season with those high expectations as the soccer-based website has the team ranked 22nd in the country.
Head coach Bryan Cunningham will lead a team that returns 10 of its 11 starters from a year ago including junior Nik Robson and seniors Warren Creavalle and Kevan George. All three were recognized with spots on the All-Conference USA First Team in 2010, while Creavalle also earned Third Team All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The trio was all named to the NSCAA South Region teams as well with Creavalle on the first time and Robson and George on the third team.
Starting goalkeeper Shawn Doyle also returns for his junior season after leading the league in save percentage and goals-against average.
Defending national champion Akron opens the season with the No. 1 ranking despite a massive roster overhaul. UCF fans will look at SMU's No. 5 ranking with some familiarity as that was the ranking the Mustangs held last season when they came to Orlando and were knocked off, 2-1, by the Knights on Oct. 2.
South Carolina (No. 17) is the only other C-USA team ranked by the site coming off their run to the league title and a berth in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
C-USA will release its preseason coaches' poll early next week when all the ballots have been returned.