Washington University Men's and Women's Soccer Ranked in Preseason Top-25

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Sports Information

Washington University's women's soccer team is ranked No. 11, while the men's team was tabbed 23rd in the NSCAA/adidas preseason top-25 poll, as announced Monday by the web site. http://bearsports.wustl.edu

The women's team finished the 2006 season with a program-best 17-3 overall record and advanced to NCAA Sectionals. The Bears posted a 7-0 record in University Athletic Association (UAA) play, capturing their fourth UAA championship in school history. Sixth-year head coach Wendy Dillinger has guided the Bears to a 69-21-8 overall record, ranking 14th among active Division III coaches with a 74.5 winning percentage.

WU returns 24 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad, including sophomore forward Caryn Rosoff and senior goalkeeper Carrie Sear.

Rosoff, a first-team all-UAA selection and the 2006 UAA Rookie of the Year, led the Bears in goals (12) and points (27) in her first year with the Red and Green. Sear, also a first-team all-UAA honoree, started 20 games in goal, posting a 17-3 overall record with a school-record 0.34 goals against average. She also recorded eight shutouts and was sixth in Division III in goals against average (0.337) and ninth in save percentage (0.90).
Washington University's men's team posted a 12-4-2 overall record in 2006, and finished third in the UAA with a 4-2-1 mark. The Bears fell to Wheaton College (Ill.), 1-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the first postseason action for the Red and Green since advancing to the NCAA Second Round in 1999.

Washington U. returns all 11 starters from the 2006 squad, including senior defender Elie Zenner, sophomore forward John Hengel and sophomore goalkeeper John Smelcer.

Zenner, a first-team all-UAA honoree, bolstered a WU defense that allowed just nine goals all year. Smelcer earned UAA Rookie of the Year honors after posting an 11-4-2 record in net and boasting a 0.53 goals against average, the fourth lowest in team history. Hengel, an honorable mention all-UAA selection, led the Bears offensively, tallying 15 points on five goals and five assists.

The women take the field for its 2007 season opener Fri., August 31 at 3 p.m. against Birmingham Southern at the Rhodes College Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The men also begin the season on Fri., August 31 in Memphis, Tenn., facing Rhodes at 5:30 p