July 17, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's soccer team appears to be picking up where it left off a year ago as one publication has the Terrapins as its top-ranked team in its preseason poll.

College Soccer News gave the Terps the nod over 2002 national champ UCLA, the team that ousted Maryland, 2-1, in last year's NCAA semifinals. The Terrapins and Bruins are followed by St. John's, Wake Forest and Stanford in the poll's top five.

Maryland returns all of its starters from last year's team, a squad that finished 20-5 overall and ranked third in the final national polls. This past spring, the team looked outstanding, finishing the season without a blemish.

The Terrapins open their 2003 campaign with an exhibition against D.C. United on August 20th at Ludwig Field before embarking on their regular season August 29th in the Creighton Tournament in Omaha, Neb.