Sea Gulls set to begin season ranked where they ended last season

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Salisbury University men's soccer team will begin the 2008 season where it left off the 2007 season, ranked No. 22 in the country, as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America released its preseason poll. The Sea Gulls completed the '07 campaign 16-4-2 where the maroon and gold advanced to the NCAA tournament second round.

Salisbury, the defending Capital Athletic Conference champions, is tied for the 22nd spot in the preseason poll with Transylvania University (Ky.) and Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). The other CAC ranked team is York (Pa.) College where the Spartans will begin the 2008 season ranked No. 5 in the country.

Last season, Salisbury upset York in the regular-season with a 1-0 victory on the road that snapped the Spartans' 49-game unbeaten streak, tops in the nation. It was York's first CAC loss since September 17, 2005, a streak of 16 conference victories. The Sea Gulls followed that up with a 2-0 victory against York on November 3, in the CAC championship hosted by SU.

The Sea Gulls will kick-off the 2008 season by hosting their annual Elmer Lord Soccer Classic on August 30-31 at the SU Soccer Complex. Salisbury welcomes Keene State (N.H.) and North Park (Ill.) along with CAC foe St. Mary's (Md.) College to the Eastern Shore for the four-game tournament. SU will face North Park on August 30 at 2 p.m. and returns a day later (August 31) with a 3 p.m. game against Keene State.