July 7, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
After ending last season as the national runner-up, North Carolina will open 2009 ranked No. 4 in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 Poll, which was released last week. The Tar Heels return four of their top five scorers from last year's 15-8-1 squad, which advanced to the finals of the 2008 NCAA College Cup.
Carolina is one of four Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the rankings and one of three in the top five. Fellow 2008 College Cup semifinalists Wake Forest (No. 3) and Maryland (No. 5) join the Tar Heels in the first five spots. Virginia checks in at No. 22.
Paced by Eddie Ababio's 18 points, UNC welcomes back five players that tallied 10 or more points a year ago, including freshman All-America picks Billy Schuler and Kirk Urso. Brooks Haggerty returns in goal after a stellar postseason run in 2008.
