North Carolina is first in Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 20

North Carolina, shooting for its third straight NCAA Division I title and 17th in 20 years, is first in the Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 20. The Heels have one of the deepest teams in their history with six players who have played for the U.S. senior national team: Jenni Branam, Catherine Reddick, Danielle Borgman, Susan Bush, Jena Kluegel and Alyssa Ramsey. No. 2 Portland claimed the top recruit in Canadian national team star Christine Sinclair. UCLA, runner-up in 2000, is No. 3. Big 12 favorite Nebraska and Virginia, featuring an excellent freshman class, round out the top five. Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 20 1. North Carolina (21-3-0). 2. Portland (18-4-0). 3. UCLA (19-4-1). 4. Nebraska (22-2-0). 5. Virginia (11-8-1). 6. Santa Clara (16-7-1). 7. Penn State (22-3-1). 8. Notre Dame (23-1-1). 9. Washington (18-3-0). 10. Clemson (19-3-1). 11. California (17-3-1). 12. Florida State (14-8-2). 13. Texas A&M (18-7-0). 14. Stanford (14-6-1). 15. Connecticut (17-7-2). 16. Florida (16-8-0). 17. Wake Forest (11-8-2). 18. Texas (12-7-0). 19. Duke (14-8-1). 20. William & Mary (15-6). ò Last year’s final record in parentheses.