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University of Massachusets Athletics
Soccer Team to Battle Nationally-Ranked Rutgers
August 19, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 19, 2002
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass men's soccer team will open its season on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 7:00 p.m. with an exhibition match against Rutgers in Chicopee, Mass.
It is the second straight season that UMass has played an exhibition game in Chicopee. Last year, the Minutemen and North Carolina Tar Heels, last season's national champions, played in front of 1,100 people, with UNC posting a 2-0 victory.
This year's game features two teams that appeared in the 2001 NCAA Tournament. UMass is coming off its best season in school history with a 15-6-1 record and its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. The Minutemen advanced to the second round with a 1-0 win over 2000 national finalist Creighton, before falling 1-0 to St. John's. UMass finished the season ranked No. 24 in the country.
Rutgers finished last season with a 15-7-3 record and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Scarlet Knights start the year ranked No. 11 in the College Soccer News preseason rankings, after finishing last season ranked No. 9.
For ticket information, contact the UMass ticket office toll-free at 1-866-UMASS-TIX.
For all the latest news and scores on the men's soccer trip to Canada, check out the men's soccer home page.