LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Men's Soccer team has been ranked No. 16 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason Poll, it was announced by the organization today.
UCLA will square off with five teams ranked within the NSCAA Preseason Top-25, including three teams ranked in the top-five. The Bruins schedule features a home-and-home series against the top-ranked Stanford Cardinal, home matches against No. 2 Akron and No. 4 Maryland, and road contests at No. 13 UC Santa Barbara and No. 15 Indiana. The Bruins and Cardinal are the only teams from the Pac-12 represented in the NSCAA Preseason Poll.
The Bruins bring back a strong group of players for the 2016 season, including Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez. UCLA returns its four top scorers in Seyi Adekoya, Abu Danladi, Jackson Yueill and Hernandez, who each scored 20 or more points last season and earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors. On the back end, the Bruins retain team captain center back Michael Amick and left back Chase Gasper who will anchor the defense in front of goalkeeper Juan Cervantes who led the team with 16 starts and a 1.22 GAA last season.
UCLA also brings in another strong recruiting class which ranks among the nation's elite. The group of five freshmen and three transfers will look to make an immediate impact in 2016.
The Bruins open the regular season on the road against No. 15 Indiana on August 20 before returning home to face No. 4 Maryland in their home opener on August 26. Tickets for all home matches are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting uclabruins.com/tickets or by calling 310-UCLA-WIN.
| Rank | School | '15 Record |
| 1 | Stanford (20) | 18-2-3 |
| 2 | Akron (2) | 18-3-3 |
| 3 | Clemson (2) | 18-3-3 |
| 4 | Maryland | 12-5-6 |
| 5 | Wake Forest | 17-3-2 |
| 6 | Syracuse | 15-6-3 |
| 7 | Creighton | 19-4-0 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 15-2-3 |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 11-5-6 |
| 10 | Georgetown | 16-2-3 |
| 11 | Boston College | 11-8-2 |
| 12 | SMU | 14-3-4 |
| 13 | UC Santa Barbara | 14-7-2 |
| 14 | Seattle | 18-4-0 |
| 15 | Indiana | 13-5-3 |
| 16 | UCLA | 11-9-1 |
| 17 | Virginia | 10-5-3 |
| 18 | Ohio State | 13-7-3 |
| 19 | South Florida | 11-6-3 |
| 20 | Denver | 15-1-3 |
| 21 | Coastal Carolina | 13-3-4 |
| 22 | UNC-Charlotte | 11-6-3 |
| 23 | Florida International | 12-7-1 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 11-8-2 |
| 25 | Rutgers | 12-7-2 |