5.  SMU – Last year SMU was 16-2-2 overall and advanced to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tourney play before falling in a penalty kick shootout to North Carolina. If you like to  attack then you must have forwards who can create and finish the opportunities that come their way.  SMU does like to attack and they do have forwards that are finishers.  The duo of senior Arthur Ivo (10g, 5a) who was an NSCAA Second-Team All-America selection and sophomore Juan Castillo (10g, 4a) who was the 2010 Conference USA Freshman of the Year gives the Mustangs a scoring combo up-top that is as explosive as any in the country.   Ivo and Castillo will bring plenty of heat to opposing defenders in 2011.  It is true that the Mustangs will miss the services of four very talented senior starters but the Ponies look to be well positioned to withstand the loss.  SMU returns players who netted thirty-six of the forty-four goals that they scored last year.  The Mustang midfield will include junior T.J. Nelson and super sophomores Robbie Derschang (5g, 5a) and Zach Barnes (5g, 0a).  They will be able to run with anyone in the country.  Senior center back Adam Still (1g, 1a) returns to anchor the defense along with seniors Ian Kalis (0g, 3a) and Diogo de Almeida.

6.  Creighton – New Bluejay head coach Elmar Bolovwich, who directed North Carolina to the Final Four for the past three seasons, will seek to keep his string alive at Creighton. The Bluejays should be very good this year.  Some have even suggested that they might win it all.  That might be a stretch but then again maybe not.  Eight starters are back including senior forward Ethan Finley (15g, 4a) who was the MVC Player of the Year and sophomore defender Tyler Polak who was the MVC Freshman of the Year return.  The Bluejays return a dynamic midfield that includes Jose Gomez (5g, 9a), Greg Jordan (3g, 3a), Kris Clark (4g, 5a) and Dion Acoff (1g, 10a).  Senior Jace Peters also returns in the back and talented senior Brian Holt, who holds the school record for career shutouts, is among the best netminders in the country.

7.  Connecticut – The Huskies look to be a very dangerous team in 2011 on both sides of the ball.  A ton of talent returns from the 2010 team that was 12-2-6 with a 5-1-3 mark in Big East play.  Last year the Huskies scored a total of forty goals while holding opponents to a total of seven.  All-American midfielder Tony Cascio (10g, 6a) who was the 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year returns to lead a cast of characters that can light up the back of the net.  Junior Carlos Alvarez (4g, 14a), junior Stephane Diop (8g, 1a) and sophomore Mamadou Doudou Diouf  (6g, 1a) are all playmakers.  Factor in the likes of sophomore defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and junior midfielder Jossimar Sanchez and you have a team that is very capable of making their presence known in 2011. The biggest challenge for Ray Reid will be finding a replacement for College Soccer News All-American goalkeeper Josh Ford who had fifty career shutouts during four stellar years in goal for the Huskies.

 

8.   Maryland – With goalkeeper Zac MacMath, midfielder Matt Kassel, and defender Ethan White turning pro and forward Jason Herrick (11g, 6a), midfielders Billy Cortes (5g, 4a) and Doug Rodkey (1g, 5a) and defender Greg Young (1g, 0a) exhausting their eligibility, the Terps have some gaps to plug in order to maintain their usual standard of excellence.  Despite the losses, there’s plenty to be excited about in College Park as there rarely is a significant drop-off in the level of talent. Senior forward Casey Townsend (9g, 5a), a 2010 All-ACC First team selection, will be Maryland’s primary offensive weapon in 2011.  Sophomore Sunny Jane (3g, 1a) and senior Matt Oduaran are among potential running mates up-top. Returning midfielders include junior John Stertzer (2g, 2a) and sophomore Patrick Mullins (5g, 4a) who was the 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year.   Freshmen midfielders Alex Shinsky and Dan Metzger should provide an immediate boost.  Senior Alex Lee and junior Taylor Kemp provide a solid nucleus upon which to build the backline.  The Terps may not be as experienced as they have been in years past but they still have considerable talent at every position.