Angela Verdoes is the tri-captain of the 2002 Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team

Franklin Pierce Ranked High in NE-10 Soccer Preseason Polls
Women tabbed to capture second-straight regular season title; Men picked third

RINDGE, N.H. (August 20, 2002) - The Franklin Pierce men's and women's soccer teams are both ranked high in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason polls released by the Conference office today.

The Franklin Pierce women's team was the overwhelming choice to repeat as the Conference regular season champions as it claimed 14 of 15 first place votes from the League's head coaches for 224 total points. Southern Connecticut State University (200 points) claimed the only other first place vote and was selected to finish second, while Merrimack College (185) was selected third.

Franklin Pierce is coming off a record setting 2001 season in which they matched an NCAA Division II record with a program-best 22 wins. The Ravens posted a program-record 14 Conference victories en route to its first NE-10 regular season crown before capturing their second-straight Conference Tournament title. The Ravens season culminated with a record tenth-straight NCAA Final Four appearance before being up-ended by upstart Christian Brothers University in the semifinals.

Grad Student Chris Schwarz returns for another season of Ravens soccer

The Franklin Pierce men's team was selected third in the 14-team Northeast-10 preseason coaches poll with 162 total points. The Ravens were picked behind Southern Connecticut State University (194 points), who claimed 12 first place votes, and Southern New Hampshire University (184) with two first place votes.

Franklin Pierce posted a 13-6 overall mark in 2001, including an 8-5 Conference clip, for a seventh-place finish in the League standings. The Ravens up-ended second-seeded and No. 15 Southern New Hampshire in the Conference quarterfinals to make a second-straight NE-10 semifinal appearance.

The Franklin Pierce men's and women's soccer teams both kick-off their 2002 seasons with matches on Saturday, August 31. The men will host NCAA semifinalist Dowling College (3 p.m.), while the women travel to Worcester, Mass., to face Assumption College in the NE-10 opener (1 p.m.).