Aug. 16, 2001
MISSION, KANSAS- The Johns Hopkins men's soccer team, coming off a 15-3-2 season in which the Blue Jays went undefeated in conference play and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, is ranked 12th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Division III Preseason Poll.
The highest Johns Hopkins has ever been ranked in a preseason poll was seventh, prior to the 1999 season. The Blue Jays were No. 2 early in the 1997 season, the highest a JHU men's soccer team has ever been ranked.
Hopkins, which defeated Salisbury State 3-1 in the opening round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament before falling in the second round to Rowan 2-1, will be led by senior forward Matthew Doran (Stormville, NY/John Jay), who set a school single-season record with 62 points and scored a goal in a Division III record 15 straight games last season.
Seniors Ryan Kitzen (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) and Aerik Williams (Columbus, OH/Columbus Academy) also return to lead the Blue Jays, who open the 2001 season by hosting the Johns Hopkins Kick-Off Classic on September 1 and 2. Hopkins, led by head coach Matt Smith, who is beginning his ninth season at JHU, will host Buffalo State at 2 p.m. on September 1, and will play Virginia Wesleyan on September 2 at 1 p.m.
Messiah (Pa.) was ranked No. 1, followed by Rowan (N.J.), Linfield College (Ore.), Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and Ohio Wesleyan.
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AGATE
NSCAA/adidas Division III National Rankings: 1. Messiah (Pa.), 2. Rowan (N.J.), 3. Linfield College (Ore.), 4. Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 5. Ohio Wesleyan, 6. Williams (Mass.), 7. Christopher Newport (Va.), 8. Trinity (Texas), 9. Saint Lawrence (N.Y.), 10. Washington and Lee (Va.), 11. Gustavus Adolphus, 12. Johns Hopkins, 13. Wheaton (Mass.), 14. Greensboro (N.C.), 15. Middlebury (Vt.), 16. DePauw (Ind.), 17. Hamilton (N.Y.), 18. Kean (N.J.), 19. Elizabethtown (Pa.), T20. Plattsburg State (N.Y.), T20. Claremount-Mudd Scripps College (Calif.), T20. Drew (N.J.), 23. Wilmington (Ohio), 24. Salisbuy State (Md.), 25. Sewanee (Tenn.)
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