SAN FRANCISCO – For the seventh-straight season, the Pac-12 Conference men’s soccer coaches have voted UCLA to win the 2016 regular season, the Conference office announced today. The Bruins edged out Stanford, which was No. 2 in the polling as voted by the Pac-12 coaches.
UCLA totaled 24 points to top the preseason Conference poll, also receiving four first-place votes. The Bruins are looking for their ninth Conference title in program history under the direction of 12th year head coach Jorge Salcedo. UCLA finished the 2015 season 11-9-1, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins return a lineup that includes Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez and 2015 first team all-conference and preseason all-Conference team members Abu Danladi and Jackson Yueill.
Close behind in the polling was NCAA Champion STANFORD with 21 points, garnering the final two first-place votes. The back-to-back Pac-12 Champions defeated Clemson, 4-0 to claim the national title in the largest margin of victory in the history of the title match. Pac-12 Coach of the Year Jeremy Gunn returns preseason all-conference members Andrew Epstein and Tomas Hillard-Arce.
WASHINGTON followed in third in the preseason poll, collecting 17 points. Junior Henry Wingo was voted to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team after his second team all-Conference selection in 2015.
CALIFORNIA tallied 14 points to place fourth with two Bears earning Preseason All-Pac-12 honors – seniors Nick Lima and Christian Thierjung. SAN DIEGO STATE finished with eight points for fifth, just ahead of OREGON STATE, who tallied six points.
In addition to the coaches poll, the Pac-12 announced the Preseason All-Pac-12 team as voted on by the Conference coaches. The 11-player preseason list includes 11 field players due to a tie in votes and a goalkeeper, and features nine 2015 all-Conference honorees.
All six Pac-12 men’s soccer teams kick off the 2016 season on Aug. 26-28. This season, 36 men’s soccer matches will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. For more information and to view the 2016 schedule, visit www.pac-12.com.
2016 PAC-12 Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll
1.
UCLA (4)
24
2.
Stanford (2)
21
3.
Washington
17
4.
California
14
5.
San Diego State
8
6.
Oregon State
6
2016 PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER ALL-PAC-12 TEAM
NAME
SCHOOL
POS.
YR.
HOMETOWN
Seyi Adekoya
UCLA
F
Jr.
Seattle, Wash.
Michael Amick
UCLA
D
Sr.
Sunnyvale, Calif.
Corey Baird
UCLA
MF
Jr.
Escondido, Calif.
Abu Danladi
UCLA
F
Jr.
Takoradi, Ghana
Andrew Epstein
STAN
GK
RS-Jr.
Fort Collins, Colo.
Jose Hernandez
UCLA
MF
So.
Mexico City, Mexico
Tomas Hilliard-Arce
STAN
D
Jr.
Matthews, N.C.
Nick Lima
CAL
D
Sr.
Castro Valley, Calif.
Timmy Mueller
OSU
F
Jr.
Post Falls, Idaho
Christian Thierjung
CAL
F
Sr.
Dove Canyon, Calif.
Henry Wingo
WASH
MF
Jr.
Seattle, Wash.
Jackson Yueill
UCLA
MF
So.
Bloomington, Minn.