Rural soccer ranked No. 3

Defending Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural will open the 2010 boys' soccer season ranked No. 2 in Class 6A and No. 3 overall in the Kansas Soccer Coaches Association's preseason poll. Rural, which finished 20-1 last year, is ranked behind Blue Valley North in 6A and behind North and No. 1 Aquinas in the overall poll, and also is ranked No. 1 in the central region.

No other city team drew top-five class rankings, but Hayden was ranked No. 1 in the Class 4-1A central region, Topeka High was No. 5 in the 6A central region and Shawnee Heights and Seaman were Nos. 3 and 5, respectively, in the 5A central region. Emporia was No. 1 in the 5A central region and No. 3 in 5A overall.

KSCA preseason poll

All Classes

1. Aquinas; 2. Blue Valley North; 3. Washburn Rural; 4. Blue Valley West; 5. Maize; 6. SM East; 7. SM Northwest; 8. Olathe East; 9. Free State; 10. Dodge City.

Class 6A

Overall — 1. Blue Valley North; 2. Washburn Rural; 3. Blue Valley West; 4. Maize; 5. SM East.

Central — 1. Washburn Rural; 2. Free State; 3. Olathe Northwest; 4. Manhattan; 5. Topeka High

Northeast — 1. Blue Valley North; 2. Blue Valley West; 3. SM East; 4. SM Northwest; 5. Olathe East.

Southwest — 1. Maize; 2. Dodge City; 3. Wichita East; 4. Wichita Northwest; 5. Wichita Heights.

Class 5A

Overall — 1. Aquinas; 2. Liberal; 3. Emporia; 4. Newton; 5. Salina Central.

Central — 1. Emporia; 2. Salina Central; 3. Shawnee Heights; 4. Lansing; 5. Seaman

Northeast — 1. Aquinas; 2. Miege; 3. Gardner-Edgerton; 4. Mill Valley; 5. Bonner Springs.

Southwest — 1. Liberal; 2. Newton; 3. Hutchinson; 4. Kapaun; 5. Andover Central.

Class 4-1A

Overall — 1. St. James Academy; 2. Wichita Trinity; 3. KC Christian; 4. Rose Hill; 5. DeSoto.

Central — 1. Hayden; 2. Louisburg; 3. Ottawwa; 4. Perry-Lecompton; 5. Tonganoxie.

Northeast — 1. St. James Academy; 2. KC Christian; 3. DeSoto; 4. Louisburg; 5. Perry-Lecompton.

Southwest — 1. Wichita Trinity; 2. Rose Hill; 3. Berean Academy; 4. Maize South; 5. Buhler.