For the seventh-straight season, UCLA has been selected by the Pac-12 Conference men's soccer coaches as the preseason favorite to win the 2016 regular season title.
The Bruins received four first place votes and a total of 24 points. Defending NCAA champion Stanford was picked second with two first place votes and 21 points, followed by Washington (17 points), California (14), San Diego State (8) and Oregon State (6).
Additionally, five Bruin players were selected to the 11-man preseason all-conference team – forwards Seyi Adekoya and Abu Danladi, midfielders Jose Hernandez and Jackson Yueill, and defender Michael Amick. Hernandez was the 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and Adekoya, Danladi and Yueill each earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors last season.
UCLA will be seeking the ninth Pac-12 Conference title in program history and seventh during head coach Jorge Salcedo's 13-year tenure.
The Bruins begin play on Aug. 20 with a scrimmage against Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind. and officially begin play on Aug. 26 against Maryland.
Pac-12 Preseason 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
Pac-12 Preseason Men's Soccer All-Pac-12 Team
Seyi Adekoya (UCLA) – F
Michael Amick (UCLA) – D
Corey Baird (Stanford) – MF
Abu Danladi (UCLA ) – F
Andrew Epstein (Stanford) – GK
Jose Hernandez (UCLA ) – MF
Tomas Hilliard-Arce (Stanford) – D
Nick Lima (California) – D
Timmy Mueller (Oregon State) – F
Christian Thierjung (California) – F
Henry Wingo (Washington) – MF
Jackson Yueill (UCLA) - MF