CNU Ranked in NSCAA Men's Soccer Preseason Rankings
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport University men's soccer is ranked 13th heading into the 2012 season, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason Rankings released this week. The Captains, under the direction of head coach Steve Shaw, are coming off the best season in program history in terms of win percentage, after going 17-1-1 for a 92.1% mark in 2011.
CNU finished the 2011 season ranked tied for 20th in the NSCAA rankings after suffering a heartbreaking first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. The Captains were ranked among the nation's top five throughout the regular season, including a run as the top-ranked team in the nation for the third straight season.
This season, the Captains will open up with a tough test, facing the 2011 National Champions and pre-season number one Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops on August 31. CNU returns All-American senior defender Sean Moriarty to lead a dominant back line that allowed just 12 goals last season for a program-record 0.63 goals against average.
2012 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men's Rankings
| Rank | School | Postseason 2011 Ranking | Final 2011 Record |
| 1 | Ohio Wesleyan | 1 | 23-2-0 |
| 2 | St. Lawrence | 8 | 18-1-1 |
| 3 | Messiah | 15 | 18-1-1 |
| 4 | Rutgers-Camden | 5 | 19-3-2 |
| 5 | Trinity (Texas) | 17 | 14-2-2 |
| 6 | Amherst | 10 | 16-2-2 |
| 7 | Stevens Institute Of Technology | 6 | 17-3-1 |
| 8 | SUNY Oneonta | 3 | 18-3-2 |
| 9 | Texas-Tyler | 7 | 18-3-2 |
| 10 | University of Redlands | 12 | 20-3-2 |
| 11 | Montclair State | 4 | 19-4-3 |
| 12 | Ohio Northern | 11 | 20-3-2 |
| 13 | Christopher Newport | 20 | 17-1-1 |
| 14 | Calvin | 2 | 19-6-2 |
| 15 | Loras | 19 | 17-4-2 |
| 16 | St. Olaf | 20 | 17-4-1 |
| 17 | Dominican (Ill.) | 20 | 19-3-0 |
| 18 | Babson | 13 | 16-3-4 |
| 19 | Luther | 14 | 17-4-2 |
| 20 | Hope | 9 | 12-5-4 |
| 21 | Washington (Mo.) | 23 | 15-4-1 |
| 22 | Neumann | NR | 14-5-1 |
| 23 | Western New England | 24 | 16-4-1 |
| 24 | Wesleyan | 24 | 15-4-1 |
| 25 | Pacific Lutheran | NR | 15-4-0 |
Also receiving votes: Trinity (Conn.), Dickinson (Pa.), Case Western Reserve (Ohio), DeSales (Pa.), SUNY Brockport, Eastern Connecticut State, Whitworth (Wash.)
Release courtesy of the Christopher Newport sports information department.
