Scots Tabbed Third in NCAC Men’s Soccer Poll

WOOSTER, Ohio — The College of Wooster men’s soccer team, carrying a 20-match regular season unbeaten streak into 2003, was picked to finish third in the North Coast Athletic Conference, announced the league office on Wednesday following the tabulation of the 10 head coaches’ vote.

Wooster earned 79 points, just behind Allegheny College (84), which received one first-place vote, while five-time defending champion Ohio Wesleyan University is nearly a unanimous favorite after collecting nine first-place votes and 99 of a possible 100 points.

Denison University (73) and Wittenberg University (56) were slotted fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Earlham College (45), Wabash College (44), Kenyon College (31), Oberlin College (27), and Hiram College (12) to complete the NCAC preseason poll.

The Scots, who went 15-1-3 last fall and were ranked as high as No. 2 in NCAA Division III, will open the campaign for a third consecutive year at a four-team event hosted by Marietta College next weekend (Aug. 30-31). Wooster is scheduled to play Juniata College at 5 p.m. on that Saturday and will meet either host Marietta or Washington & Jefferson College on Sunday at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m.