Men's Soccer Ranked No. 19 in NSCAA Preseason Top-25 Poll

TOP-25 POLL

St. Louis, Mo., August 11, 2011 – The Washington University in St. Louis men’s soccer team is ranked No. 19 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) Continental Tire Division III preseason top-25 poll, it was announced by the organization.

The Bears posted a 14-1-5 record last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Loras College in penalty kicks. Washington University opened last year with a 10-0-3 record, marking the program’s best start to a season since 1979 and the Red and Green were 4-1-2 against University Athletic Association (UAA) competition, placing second in the eight-team conference.

Washington U. returns six starters and 28 letterwinners from last year’s squad including its top six scorers from 2010. Senior Patrick McLean led the Bears with six goals and 15 points last year while senior Cody Costakis tallied a team-high six assists to go along with four goals.

McLean, Costakis and sophomore defender Nik Patel were each All-UAA honorees last year, with Patel helping anchor a defensive unit that yielded just nine goals all year while recording 12 shutouts. Washington U. ranked sixth in Division III with a 0.42 team goals against average.

The Bears also welcome back junior Kenji Kobayashi (five goals), junior Zachary Query (three goals, three assists), senior Kevin Privalle (three goals, three assists) and sophomore Michael Flowers (two goals, four assists).

Sophomore Jonathan Jebson is expected to contend for the starting job in goal after splitting time with Andrew Serio last year. Jebson turned in an impressive freshman campaign, ranking fifth in Division III in goals against average (.343) and save percentage (0.90) while giving up just four goals all year.

Washington University opens the 2011 season against Webster University on Thursday, Sept. 1, in St. Louis, Mo., at 7 p.m.