Gator Soccer Team Ranked in Preseason Polls
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 | Soccer
The University of Florida soccer team is ranked No. 13 on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll. The Gators also hold a preseason ranking of No. 19 on the Soccer Buzz poll. Defending national champion Santa Clara tops both polls.
The Gators meet nine teams during the 2002 regular season that appear on the NSCAA preseason poll. Florida opens the 2002 season on Friday, Aug. 30 at No. 18 Michigan. The following weekend, Florida returns home to play host to two top 10 teams – No. 9 Connecticut on Sept. 6 and No. 10 Nebraska on Sept. 8. The UF-UN match will be aired live on Sunshine Television at 2:00 p.m. The Gators make their first trip to Palo Alto, Calif., for the Stanford Nike Invitational, where they will meet defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Santa Clara on Sept. 20 in a match that will air live at 8:00 p.m. on Sunshine. Then UF meets No. 12 Stanford on Sept. 22. The Gators will meet their third consecutive preseason ranked team on Sept. 27 at No. 17 Florida State in a match that will air live on Sunshine at 7:00 p.m. Florida will play host to Southeastern Conference opponents Tennessee on Oct. 18 and Georgia on Oct. 20. The Lady Vols own a preseason ranking of No. 20, while the Lady Dogs hold the No. 25 position. The UF-UGA match will air live on Sunshine at 3:00 p.m. The regular-season finale has the Gators traveling to No. 14 Clemson for a Nov. 2 match.
Last season, the Florida soccer team advanced to the NCAA College Cup, falling in the semifinal 3-2 in overtime to eventual NCAA champion Santa Clara. The Gators, who finished the season with 21-4-1 record, claimed their sixth consecutive SEC title in 2001. Florida finished the season ranked No. 4 on the final NSCAA poll.
Florida will play host to an exhibition match vs. Jacksonville University on Friday, Aug. 23. Match time is set for 6:00 p.m. at the UF Soccer Practice Field and admission is free. The Gators open the season Friday, August 30 at Michigan.
NSCAA Preseason Poll
Released August 21, 2002
| Rank | School | 2001 Record | Date w/UF |
| 1 | Santa Clara University | 23-2 | Sept. 20 - neutral |
| 2 | North Carolina | 24-1 |
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| 3 | UCLA | 20-3 |
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| 4 | Portland | 20-4 |
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| 5 | Texas A&M University | 17-4-1 |
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| 6 | Virginia | 17-41 |
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| 7 | Notre Dame | 17-3-1 |
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| 8 | Penn State University | 21-4-1 |
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| 9 | Connecticut | 11-8-1 | Sept. 6 – home |
| 10 | Nebraska | 17-7-2 | Sept. 8 – home |
| 11 | Texas | 14-6 |
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| 12 | Stanford University | 15-4-2 | Sept. 22 – away |
| 13 | Florida | 21-4-1 |
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| 14 | Clemson University | 15-5-1 | Nov. 2 – away |
| 15 | California | 12-7-2 |
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| 16 | St. Mary's College | 15-3-2 |
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| 17 | Florida State University | 15-8-1 | Sept. 27 – away |
| 18 | Michigan | 13-8-1 | Aug. 30 – away |
| 19 | Rutgers University | 14-8-1 |
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| 20 | Tennessee | 11-6-1 | Oct. 18 – home |
| 21 | Dartmouth College | 11-5-1 |
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| 22 | Washington | 13-5-2 |
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| 23 | Illinois | 12-8-1 |
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| 24 | SMU | 16-4 |
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| 25 | West Virginia University | 15-5-1 |
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| 25 | Georgia | 13-6-1 | Oct. 20 – home |
| 25 | Pepperdine University | 12-5-3 |
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Soccer Buzz Preseason Poll
| Rank | School | 2001 Record |
| 1 | Santa Clara | 23-2 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 24-1 |
| 3 | Portland | 20-4 |
| 4 | Virginia | 17-4-1 |
| 5 | Stanford | 15-4-2 |
| 6 | Penn State | 21-4-1 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 17-3-1 |
| 8 | Texas | 14-6 |
| 9 | SMU | 16-4 |
| 10 | Florida State | 15-8-1 |
| 11 | UCLA | 20-3 |
| 12 | Dartmouth | 11-5-1 |
| 13 | St Mary's | 15-3-2 |
| 14 | Tennessee | 11-6-1 |
| 15 | Rutgers | 14-8-1 |
| 16 | Clemson | 15-5-1 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 15-5-1 |
| 18 | Princeton | 17-3-2 |
| 19 | Florida | 21-4-1 |
| 20 | Pepperdine | 12-5-3 |
| 21 | Harvard | 11-6 |
| 22 | Texas A&M | 17-4-1 |
| 23 | Arizona State | 10-8-1 |
| 24 | Georgia | 13-6-1 |
| 25 | Washington | 13-5-2 |
