Women’s Soccer Ranked No. 11 Nationally In NSCAA/adidas Preseason Rankings

Ravens open season Aug. 27 and 29 against Caldwell and Molloy

NSCAA/adidas National Preseason Rankings

RINDGE, N.H. (August 17, 2009) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team is ranked No. 11 nationally in the preseason edition of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas National Rankings, as announced by the NSCAA.

The Ravens jump up nine spots from the No. 20 position, which they occupied at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. Franklin Pierce comes off a 15-4-2 season in which it earned an NCAA Division II record 17th straight berth in the NCAA Championship and hosted an East Region sub-regional at Sodexo Field. The Ravens shared the Northeast-10 Conference regular season championship with Saint Rose a year ago.

Defending national champion Seattle Pacific opens the season in the top spot, followed by 2008 national runner-up West Florida in the No. 2 position. Metro State sits third, while defending East Region champion Saint Rose opens the season at No. 4. Wisconsin-Parkside rounds out the preseason top-five.

Bridgeport and C.W. Post also represent the East Region in the preseason top 25 at No. 19 and No. 25, respectively.

Franklin Pierce opens the 2009 season at Jess Dow Field in New Haven, Conn. in the Southern Connecticut Owls Autumn Invitational. The Ravens will take on Caldwell at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27 before playing Molloy at 4 p.m. on Aug. 29. Franklin Pierce’s home opener is slated for 4 p.m. on Sept. 4 against Florida Southern at Sodexo Field in Rindge.