Men's Soccer Opens 2003 Campaign Ranked Ninth in Nation
Four-time defending CCAA champion begins season ranked No. 9 in preseason polls
August 19, 2003

CARSON, Calif.--The National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason rankings were released on Tuesday and the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's team will open the season ranked No. 9 in the nation. The Toros finished the 2002 season ranked No. 11 in the final NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II polls.

CSUDH completed the 2002 campaign with an 18-4-1 record while capturing its fourth-consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship with a 13-1-0 league record. The Toros were upset in the first round of the NCAA playoffs by eventual national champion Sonoma State, 2-1, in overtime.

Cal State Dominguez Hills returns 13 players from last year's squad, including eight starters.

The CCAA was well represented in the preseason rankings, landing four teams in the top 25. Defending NCAA Division II national champion Sonoma State is ranked No. 1 to open the year. Cal State Bakersfield opens at No. 16 while UC Davis is No. 23.

Below is the complete NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II men's soccer preseason rankings. The first regular season poll will be released Sept. 1.

1.  Sonoma State
2.  Lynn (Fla.)
3.  East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
4.  Southern Connecticut State
5.  Southern New Hampshire
6.  South Carolina-Spartanburg
7.  Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8.  Barry (Fla.)
9.  Cal State Dominguez Hills
10. Lewis (Ill.)
11. Midwestern State (Texas)
12. Incarnate Word (Texas)
13. Rockhurst (Mo.)
14. Ashland (Ohio)
15. West Chester (Pa.)
16. Cal State Bakersfield
17. Tusculum (Tenn.)
18. Tampa
19. Truman State (Mo.)
20. Colorado School of Mines
21. District of Columbia
22. Wheeling Jesuit (W. Va.)
23. UC Davis
24. Massachusetts-Lowell
25. West Florida