M. Soccer ranked in nation's top 25
Although the Penn men's soccer team will begin its season on Friday against Lehigh, the Quakers have apparently proven themselves nationally over the past week.
Yesterday, the Quakers vaulted to No. 25 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and also moved up one spot, into second place, on the NSCAA's mid-Atlantic rankings.
Nothing like expectations.
The Quakers are set to play some of the top teams in the NSCAA rankings this year, headed by a trip on Oct. 21 to College Park, Md., to face No. 1 Maryland.
Rutgers is the lone team ranked ahead of Penn in the mid-Atlantic region and is No. 8 overall. Penn beat the Scarlet Knights last season, however the Quakers are not scheduled to play them this year.
Last week, starting goalkeeper Matt Haefner burst into the national limelight when the Missouri Athletic Club named him as one of 15 nominees for collegiate soccer's greatest honor, the Hermann Trophy.
Haefner is among nine of 11 starters returning from a squad that won its first Ivy League title in 22 seasons.
Zachary Silver
