1.  St. John’s -  The Red Storm will be tenacious on defense and explosive on offense.  Nine starters are back from the 2008 team that was 19-3-3 overall and advanced to the Final Four.  Ryan Soroka returns up-top, Nelson Becerra and Tafadzwa Chiduka spearhead what should be an awesome midfield, and Joel Gustafsson returns to anchor the backline.

2.  Creighton - The Bluejays return nine starters from the 2008 team that was 16-2-2 overall and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.  Byron Dacy and Ethan Finlay return to give the Jays a talented one-two punch up top while Chris Schuler and 5th year senior Seth Sinovic anchor a very solid Creighton backline.  

4.  North Carolina -  A pretty solid nucleus returns from the 2008 team that came alive in the NCAA Tourney and advanced to the National Championship match.  Transfers Stephen McCarthy and Michael Farfan should immediately contribute.  Sophomore Billy Schuler (4g, 5a) will be counted upon to lead the attack.  Senior Brooks Haggerty returns in goal. 

5.  Maryland - The 2008 National Champs sustained big losses due to graduation and the decision of defender Omar Gonzalez and midfielders  Jeremy Hall and Rodney Wallace to leave early to join the professional ranks.  Sophomore forward Casey Townsend and classmates goalkeeper Zac MacMath and midfielder Matt Kassel are key returning players.

6.  Akron - Eight starters including junior midfielders Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Blair Gavin, sophomore forward Darlington Nagbe and sophomore defender Kofi Sarkodie return from the 2008 team that was 17-2-4 overall and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.  Three consecutive years of top notch recruiting classes equals a lot of talented players. 

7.  Indiana - Opportunity knocks early for the Hoosiers who host St. John’s and Wake Forest and later travel to face Akron.  A brutal non-conference schedule and a competitive Big Ten season may take a toll on IU but maybe not.  Seven starters return led by forward Will Bruin, midfielders Andy Adlard and Eric Alexander and back Ofori Sarkodie.

8.  California - The Golden Bears return nine starters from the 2009 team that was 12-4-5 overall with a 5-2-3 record in Pac-10 play.  Kevin Grimes must find a replacement for goalkeeper Stefan Frei who entered the professional ranks.  Junior forward Andrew Wiedeman will spearhead the attack.  Hector Jimenez and Servando Carrasco are talented midfielders.

9.  Northwestern - Tim Lenahan has done a great job in the past of modifying his system of play to reflect the strengths of his players.  Forward Matt Eliason (12g, 1a), midfielders Carl Pett and Piero Bellizzi, defenders Mark Blades, Cody Stanley, and Pat Coleman and goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal provide a solid foundation upon which to build in 2009.

10.  Dartmouth - It would be a mistake to underestimate the Big Green in 2009.  Ten starters return from the 2008 team that was 11-6-2 overall, won the Ivy League title, and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.  Senior midfielder Craig Henderson (6g, 5a), who was the Ivy League Player of the Year,  returns along with sophomore forward Lucky Mkosana (11g, 2a).

11.  UIC - John Trask continues to take care of business.  The Flames will miss the intensity of All-American Baggio Husidic (9g, 6a) but eight starters return from a very pesky 2008 side that was 12-4-6 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.  All-American Jovan Bubonja returns in goal.  Juniors Kevin Stoll (5g, 5a) and Matt Spies (5g, 1a) will power the attack.

3.  Wake Forest -  It’s tempting to focus on the players that the Deacons will be without due to graduation and lose sight of all the talent that is returning.  Wake Forest will again field one of the best teams in the nation in 2009 with Cody Arnoux and Zack Schilawski returning up-top, prime timer Corben Bone in the midfield, and Ike Opara anchoring the backline.