Aug. 24, 2004
Truman Men's & Women's Soccer Listed In Preseason Rankings
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has released their preseason rankings for men's and women's soccer for the 2004 season.
The Bulldog men's team was ranked a disappointing 12th in the preseason poll after finishing the 2003 season with a 20-1 overall record and a final NSCAA ranking of fourth. Truman returns eight of the eleven starters including NSCAA third-team all-Americans junior forward Sean Birrell (Perth, Scotland/Perth) and sophomore goalkeeper Nate Gibson (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville).
The Men's team will open up the 2004 season at home against Christian Brothers University (Tenn.) at 11 a.m. at the University Soccer Field. They will also host Indianapolis (Ind.) at noon on Sunday.
The Bulldog women's team was ranked 19th in the NSCAA poll for 2004. Truman is looking to return to the NCAA post-season tournament for the fourth consecutive year in a row and a sixth consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship. They return nine starters that went 18-2-1 in 2003.
The Bulldogs will begin their quest for a national championship on Friday when they travel to the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) to play the host Fighting Sioux at 4:00 p.m. Truman will then play Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday at noon, also in Grand Forks, N.D.
Truman's first home game will be Sept. 6 against MIAA rival Missouri-Southern at noon.