Aug. 18, 2007

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's soccer team is ranked No. 25 in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Poll. The Lakers went 17-4 a year ago, won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship, and advanced to the NCAA playoffs.

The Lakers open the season Friday by hosting Southern Indiana at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field at 4:00 p.m.

Mercyhurst is the only GLIAC team ranked among the top 25 and will look to win the conference title in its final season before moving to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Lakers have won 11 of 12 conference titles since entering the GLIAC in 1995.

Dowling is ranked No. 1 in the country after going 22-0-2 a year ago. Fort Lewis is No. 2, followed by West Florida, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Lincoln Memorial. Regional opponents SIU-Edwardsville and Northern Kentucky are No. 7 and No. 8 respectively, while Wisconsin Parkside is No. 23. Among PSAC schools, East Stroudsburg is No. 15 and Lock Haven is No. 19.

The entire poll can be viewed here: NSCAA/adidas Preseason Division II Men's Soccer Poll