CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston men’s soccer team has been ranked as the No. 7 team in NCAA Division II in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll released Thursday morning.

The Golden Eagles bring back 8 starters from last season’s West Virginia Conference Championship squad, which finished the 2009 campaign with a 17-3 overall record along with a perfect 10-0 conference record. The returning players include six First-Team All WVIAC Players including 2009 NSCAA Third Team All-American and WVIAC Player of the Year Dion Peters, along with 2009 NSCAA Second Team All-American Rob Vincent.

"We are excited about the core players we have returning and the recruiting class we have worked hard to bring in." says Coach Chad Duernberger, "Going into the season ranked #7 is nice to have, but we are still 0-0-0 as any other NCAA team in the country. Our true ranking and success will be determined on how hard our guys want to work from now until December."

Charleston adds two players to the active roster who redshirted in 2009 as England natives Ryan Osborne and Dan Walmsley look to make their presence known on the field.

UC has also added several key recruits including two top junior college players in South African Harry Machacha (who started for the 21-0 National Champions Tyler Junior College) and Bahamas native Marshall Ngobidi, while gaining the services of Division I transfer in Eddie Mangan from Coastal Carolina.

Charleston begins the 2010 season on the road with back-to-back games against regional opponents Shippensburg and Slippery Rock, before returning for their home opener against Urbana (Ohio) on September 8 at 7:30pm at Triana Field.

"We are looking forward to getting started as we have meetings all weekend and training camp begins on Monday."