UCLA
Utah Valley (Exhibition)
Bruins Prepare for 2017 with Two Exhibition Matches
August 15, 2017 | Men's Soccer
No. 21 UCLA vs. Utah Valley
Los Angeles, Calif. (Marshall Field at Drake Stadium)
Wednesday, Aug. 16 - 7:30 pm PT
Tickets - Free admission
Follow @UCLAMSoccer
No. 21 UCLA vs. Santa Ana Winds FC
Los Angeles, Calif. (Marshall Field at Drake Stadium)
Sunday, Aug. 20 - 7:00 pm PT
Tickets - Free admission
Follow @UCLAMSoccer
UCLA Prepares for 2017 with Pair of Exhibition Games
The preseason No. 21 UCLA men's soccer team will prepare for the 2017 season with two home exhibition games this week. The Bruins will host Utah Valley on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. before facing Santa Ana Winds FC on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at Marshall Field at Drake Stadium and admission is free for both matches.
Preseason Rankings
The United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) ranked the Bruins No. 21 in its preseason poll that came out on Aug. 3. UCLA ended last season 10-8-2 after falling to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Preseason Poll
The 2017 Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll came out on Tuesday and the Bruins were picked second in the poll, snapping a streak of seven-straight years as the preseason favorite. UCLA earned one first-place vote and 22 overall points as Stanford earned the top spot with 24 points and four first-place votes.
Returning Bruins
UCLA returns 2017 Preseason All-Pac-12 selection Erik Holt and 2016 All-Pac-12 second team selection Brian Iloski. Holt helped lead the UCLA backline to five shutouts last season and was one of two players to play in all 20 matches last season, while Iloski was last season's points leader with five goals and seven assists. The Bruins also return starting goalkeeper Kevin Silva who ranked 12th in the NCAA and tops in the Pac-12 in saves per game.
Fresh Faces
The Bruins bring in the No. 16 ranked recruiting class in the country by Top Drawer Soccer, led by Brandon Terwege, Andrew Paoli, Milan Iloski and Eric Iloski, while also adding transfers Anderson Asiedu from Monmouth and Alex Knox from Wake Forest.
Scouting the Opponents
Utah Valley is the defending Western Athletic Conference champions and were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches poll this season. The Wolverines are led by Preseason All-WAC selections Paul Hoffmeister and Giovanny Vazquez. Santa Ana Winds FC plays out of the United Premier Soccer League and are looking to qualify for the 2018 U.S. Open Cup with matches starting in September.
