DAYTON, Ohio - After posting one of the best seasons in school history, the University of Dayton men's soccer team is receiving national recognition leading up to the start of the 2009 campaign.

The Flyers, coming off a season that saw them earn an NCAA berth and win the 2008 Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship, earned a No. 18 ranking in the College Soccer News Pre-Season Top 30 National Poll. UD is the top-ranked Atlantic 10 team in the poll, which also lists Saint Louis as No. 24.

"It always feels good to get national recognition and I am excited for our program. The ranking is well-deserved for all of the hard work our guys have put in," said Dayton head soccer coach Dennis Currier. "But, we know a ranking also puts a larger target on our back and we have to prepare even more to maintain it and try to climb higher. Our next goal is to work our way into the Top Ten."

Here's what College Soccer News had to say about the Flyers' outlook for 2009:

"With eight returning starters the foundation is in place for the Flyers to build on the success that they enjoyed last year when they were 15-4-3 overall. Forward Alex Torda (10g, 3a) will power the attack up top. Senior Ben Murray is rock solid in the midfield. Center back Ryan Handbury will anchor a very experienced and capable backline."

Dayton bumped up one spot from its ranking of No. 19 in the College Soccer News Final 2008 Poll. NSCAA/adidas ranked UD No. 1 in the Middle Atlantic Region and 26th in the nation. The Flyers were also ranked 27th by Soccer Times.

Dayton returns 68 percent of its offense from last season, led by Torda, who was considered for the 2008 Hermann Trophy. UD tied a school record with 46 goals, leading the Atlantic 10 in points (139), goals and assists (47).

UD also got it done on defense and all five Flyers who earned starts on the back line return for 2009. Dayton was tied for third in the A-10 in shutouts.

The Flyers open the 2009 regular season with a non-conference match against the Big East conference's Cincinnati at Baujan Field on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. ET.

CSN Pre-Season Top Thirty Rankings
1. St. John's
2. Creighton
3. Wake Forest
4. North Carolina
5. Maryland
6. Akron
7. Indiana
8. California
9. Northwestern
10. Dartmouth
11. UIC
12. Tulsa
13. South Florida
14. UC Irvine
15. Loyola (MD)
16. Notre Dame
17. UCLA
18. Dayton
19. UC Santa Barbara
20. Connecticut
21. Drake
22. Virginia
23. Boston University
24. Saint Louis
25. Michigan State
26. Cal Poly
27. SMU
28. Louisville
29. George Mason
30. San Francisco