Aug. 14, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team earned its highest preseason ranking in school history Monday as the Bulldogs were ranked No. 9 in the Southeast Region by Soccer Buzz Magazine, the nation's premier collegiate soccer publication.

The preseason ranking, which was Samford's second in three years, tabbed the Bulldogs as the highest-ranked team in Alabama.

Samford, at No. 9 in the talent-laden Southeast Region, came in three spots ahead of Auburn, at No. 12, and four positions in front of UAB, No. 13. The Bulldogs were sandwiched between two of the top teams in Florida, Florida Atlantic, at No. 8, and UCF, No. 10.

In 2004, Samford earned its first preseason ranking in the Southeast Region. The Bulldogs entered the year at No. 12.

Soccer Buzz ranked all 52 Division I soccer programs in the Southeast Region and took into account the teams' 2005 record, returning starters and letterwinners, as well as their incoming recruiting class.

Samford's 2006 recruiting class was ranked No. 18 in the region and No. 85 in the nation.

Florida State received the preseason No. 1 ranking in the Southeast Region and was joined in the top five by North Carolina, Florida, Duke and Georgia, respectively.

Only 15 of the teams in each region were recognized by Soccer Buzz.

In the Southeast Region, which is comprised of every Division I school located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, the top 15 was rounded out by Davidson and Miami.

Samford is coming off its most successful season in school history. The Bulldogs finished the 2005 campaign with a school-record 15-4-4 overall mark and won both the Ohio Valley Conference's regular-season and tournament titles.

The regular-season conference championship was the Bulldogs' third in a row and head coach Todd Yelton was named the 2005 OVC Coach of the Year. The accolade was his second in three seasons.

In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Samford outlasted 19th-ranked Vanderbilt in the opening round of the 64-team event to become the first team in OVC history to advance to the second round.

The Bulldogs return all 11 starters from last season and boast 19 returning letterwinners. Samford's 2006 roster also includes the addition of six highly-touted incoming freshmen.

Samford will begin its fall season Aug. 17, against Southern Miss. The teams will play an exhibition contest at 4 p.m., in Hattiesburg, Miss.

2006 Soccer Buzz Preseason Rankings
Southeast Region (52 teams)

1. Florida State (20-4-1)
2. North Carolina (23-1-1)
3. Florida (13-6-1)
4. Duke (14-6-1)
5. Georgia (12-6-2)
6. Wake Forest (9-9-1)
7. Clemson (9-9-2)
8. Florida Atlantic (16-4-1)
9. Samford (15-4-4)
10. UCF (12-10)
11. Charlotte (11-9)
12. Auburn (8-12-1)
13. UAB (8-10-1)
14. Davidson (14-5-2)
15. Miami (8-11-1)

- Last season's record in ( )