University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Tops Pac-12 Preseason Poll
August 12, 2015 | Men's Soccer
SAN FRANCISCO – For the sixth-straight season, the Pac-12 Conference's men's soccer coaches voted UCLA as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 regular season, the Conference office announced today.
The Bruins received four first place votes and a total of 24 points. In descending order after UCLA are Stanford (21 points) and Washington (18 points), who each received a first place vote, followed by California (13 points), Oregon State (nine points) and San Diego State (five points).
UCLA comes into the 2015 season looking to build off of a successful year in 2014 which saw the group advance to the program's ninth College Cup final. This season, UCLA returns seven of their top-10 scorers and brings in the nation's number one recruiting class for the third season in-a-row.
Up top UCLA brings back a trio of high-scoring forwards, highlighted by Top Drawer Soccer Freshman of the Year Abu Danladi. In just 12 games, the Ghanaian scored five goals and added six assists, finishing second on the team with 16 points. Joining Danladi, fellow sophomore and second team All-Pac-12 honoree Seyi Adekoya will be back after netting seven goals a year ago. The veteran of the group, senior Larry Ndjock, comes back as well following a stellar campaign which saw him score two goals in the College Cup semifinals to lead the Bruins past Providence.
In the midfield, the Bruins return a solid group of veterans led by Grady Howe, Brian Iloski and Felix Vobejda. Howe, an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection, will once again anchor the defensive midfield where he contributed to all eight shutouts and assisted on two goals a season ago. Iloski and Vobejda will return in the attacking mid where they combined for two goals and four assists last year.
Arguably the biggest strength of the returning group is on the back end where the Bruins return all four starters from 2014. Junior center back Michael Amick is the top returner, earning first team All-Pac-12 last season after starting all 24 games, logging the most minutes among UCLA field players (2,287). Redshirt senior Edgar Contreras will join Amick in central defense where they will be book-ended by right back Nathan Smith and left back Chase Gasper. The sophomore Gasper, a second team freshman All-American, was especially impressive in his debut campaign, totaling two goals and four assists from his defensive position.
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.
