The Georgia soccer team was tabbed 18th in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, the organization announced.

The Bulldogs are coming off an 11-11-1 campaign in 2008.

North Carolina, Stanford, Notre Dame, Portland, and UCLA rounded out the top five slots in the poll.

The 2009 Georgia squad returns nine starters from a season ago, a team that finished second in the SEC, including seniors Carrie Patterson (8g, 5a) and Michelle Betos (1.19 GAA, .807 save pct., 7 SO) and sophomores Ashley Miller (5g, 1a) and Jamie Pollock (2g, 1a). Patterson is first in school history with 84 career points and is tied for first with 33 goals.

“We are excited about the pre-season national ranking and the team is looking forward to the upcoming season,” said head coach Patrick Baker. “Our young ladies have had a very productive preseason and continue to improve with each passing day. We need to stay healthy, keep fit and try to play attractive soccer throughout the remainder of the season.”

- Georgia Sports Communications