January 5, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va. - While the 2003 men's soccer season may be completed, Virginia Tech head coach Oliver Weiss and his staff have an added bonus to lure recruits for next season. The 2003 Hokies finished the year ranked in the top 25 in four major national polls, marking the first time in school history Tech concluded its season nationally ranked.

The Hokies ranked as high as 15^th by the Soccer America magazine poll, ranked 20^th in the final NSCAA Coaches' poll, finished the year ranked 21^st by Soccer Times, and concluded as the nation's 24^th highest-ranked team by collegesoccernews.com.

Virginia Tech was 14-5-3 in 2003 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the first-ever appearance in a national postseason tournament by the Hokies. The 14 wins tied a team record for wins in a year, and the winning percentage ranked 24^th in the nation. The Hokies also also set a single season record for most goals (52) and most points (145). In its final year in the BIG EAST, Tech claimed second place after being picked to finish ninth in a preseason vote by the league's head coaches. In addition, the Hokies were the sixth-highest scoring team in the nation, averaging 2.36 goals per game. Bobby O'Brien ranked 21^st nationally in goals per game (0.68) and 27^th in points per game (1.59).

The Hokies will begin play in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference next season.