College Soccer News has ranked the University of Portland Pilots 24th nationally in their annual preseason top-30 men’s soccer poll. Portland finished the 2003 season out of the national rankings despite earning an at-large bid in the NCAA Playoffs and advancing to the second round. Indiana was picked No. 1 in the poll, while St. John’s, North Carolina, Saint Louis and UCLA rounded out the top five.

The Pilots return nine starters, including West Coast Conference Player of the Year Alejandro Salazar (10g, 1a) and sophomore striker Christopher Sanders (8g, 2a). Also returning is senior midfielder Josh Simpson (4g, 4a), a member of the Canadian Olympic Team, and the entire starting back line along with sophomore goalkeeper Luis Robles. An incoming class of 10 talented newcomers will help offset the loss of nine letterwinners.

Portland has always scheduled challenging opposition and the 2004 schedule is no exception. Among the competition are five teams ranked in the College Soccer News preseason poll. The Pilots host 29th-ranked UAB at the Nike Invitational on Sept. 6. Washington is the highest-ranked Pilot opponent at No. 10, as Portland will host the Huskies at Merlo Field on Sept. 15. Akron (No. 25) and Portland will face off at the Husky Fever Classic on Sept. 24. Santa Clara (No. 16) and the Pilots will meet twice in regular season play, at Merlo Field on Oct. 8 and in Santa Clara on Nov. 7. The Pilots will also take on No. 20 California in a late-season non-conference matchup on Nov. 5 in Berkeley, Calif.

College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 National Poll

1. Indiana

2. St. John’s

3. North Carolina

4. Saint Louis

5. UCLA

6. Wake Forest

7. SMU

8. Virginia

9. Old Dominion University

10. Washington

11. Michigan

12. Maryland

13. U.C. Santa Barbara

14. Notre Dame

15. Coastal Carolina

16. Santa Clara

17. Tulsa

18. Connecticut

19. VCU

20. California

21. Virginia Tech

22. Binghamton

23. FIU

24. Portland

25. Akron

26. Seton Hall

27. Creighton

28. New Mexico

29. UAB

30. Brown