The Johns Hopkins women's soccer team is ranked third in the 2012 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Pre-Season Rankings released August 7. The mark is the Blue Jays' highest national ranking in program history, after previously climbing as high as fourth in 2011.

Despite losing all-time Hopkins points leader Erica Suter to graduation, reigning NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year Leo Weil returns eight starters to a side that boasted a program-best 0.955 (21-1-0) winning percentage in 2011.

First Team ECAC All-South forward Hannah Kronick (pictured) leads the Blue Jays following a breakout freshman season in which she scored 19 goals and added 10 assists. Kronick set the set the school record for consecutive games with a point, scoring at least one point in the first 16 games of her career, and consecutive games with a goal (eight).

Also returning for Hopkins are defenders Kylie Fuller and Taylor Schulte. The pair was part of a Blue Jay backline that earned 14 shutouts and allowed just 11 goals in 22 matches in 2011.

The Blue Jays' only defeat last season came in a 2-0 loss to Amherst in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament. Prior to the loss, Hopkins had captured its seventh straight Centennial Conference title in addition to collecting a program-best 21 consecutive victories.

Johns Hopkins has now spent 48 straight weeks in the national rankings, dating back to September 2, 2008. The 2012 Blue Jays are scheduled to face #1 Messiah in a marquee matchup at Homewood Field on September 5 at 7 p.m. and will also play #6 Emory in Raleigh, NC on September 7.

2012 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Pre-Season Rankings

1. Messiah (23-0-1)

2. William Smith (20-1-1)

3. Johns Hopkins (21-1-0)

4. Wheaton (Ill.) (23-2-2)

5. Trinity (Texas) (22-1-0)

6. Emory (17-1-2)

7. Amherst (20-1-0)

8. Middlebury (13-4-2)

9. Washington (Mo.) (18-5-0)

10. Hardin-Simmons (20-2-0)

RV. Haverford (12-3-4)