SAN FRANCISCO – UCLA Men's Soccer players Seyi Adekoya, Michael Amick and Abu Danladi were named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team, it was announced today.
This marks the inaugural Preseason All-Pac-12 team, which was voted on by the conference's coaches. The 11-player preseason list includes 10 field players and a goalkeeper, and features seven 2014 All-Conference honorees. UCLA's three representatives ties Stanford for a conference-high, followed by Washington and Oregon State with two and California with one.
Adekoya, a sophomore forward, returns to Westwood after netting five goals and four assists in 17 games (nine starts) a season ago. A 2014 second team All-Pac-12 selection, Adekoya finished tied for third on the team with 14 points, recording at least one point in the team's first three games. The Seattle, Wash. native was named Pac-12 Player of the Week twice last season and had a two-goal performance against Stanford on October 30.
Amick, a junior defender, was recently named to the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List. The third team NSCAA All-American started all 24 games last season, logging a team-high 2,287 minutes. Amick's play in the Bruins' central defense was an integral part of the team capturing a conference-high eight shutouts. A first team All-Pac-12 selection last season, Amick will serve as a team captain for the second-straight year this fall.
Danladi, a sophomore forward, was named the National Freshman of the Year by Top Drawer Soccer in 2014. The Takoradi, Ghana native appeared in 12 games (nine starts) a season ago, tallying five goals and a team-high tying six assists. His 16 total points ranked second on the team, while his seven points in postseason play led the Bruins. Danladi averaged a team-high 1.33 points per game and recorded two multi-point games, including a two-goal effort in a win against Oregon State on October 19.
UCLA will open the regular season on August 29 when they host New Mexico at 4:00pm PT at Drake Stadium. Tickets for all home matches are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 310-UCLA-WIN or by visiting uclabruins.com/tickets.