June 25, 2004

Duke's 2004 men's soccer recruiting class is ranked second in the nation by College Soccer News. The nine-member recruiting class will join a Blue Devil team that features nine returning starters.

According to College Soccer News, the class is "an extremely athletic and physically imposing group of recruits that includes five members who were NSCAA All-America selections and three with U.S. Youth National Team experience."

Head coach John Rennie says the class is "one of the best classes we've ever had at Duke" and College Soccer News goes on to say that the class "will have an immediate impact on the level of play at Duke."

Duke's class was ranked second nationally UCLA's, which garnered the top billing for the second consecutive year.

College Soccer News evaluated individual players based on a combination of their high school, club, ODP, and regional and national experience. Playing experience against top level competition was also a big factor. Additionally, College Soccer News ranked the classes on the perceived ability to fill the gaps on a team and the overall potential of the recruits to increase the competitiveness of the team.

Duke opens the 2004 season on September 1 against Emory and Henry.