Silva, Lepley Named to Preseason Pac-12 Best XI
August 22, 2023 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – UCLA senior defender Tommy Silva and redshirt junior midfielder Tucker Lepley have both been selected to the 2023 Pac-12 Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.
UCLA was one of just three schools with multiple players on the 11-man team, joining Washington and Oregon State.
In addition, the Bruins were tabbed to finish third in the league in the 2023 Pac-12 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. UCLA was one of three teams to receive a first place vote in the poll.
Silva, who earlier this summer was named to the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Watch List for defenders, is coming off back-to-back All-Pac-12 seasons. Last season, he paced the team and ranked fourth in the Pac-12 with a career-high eight assists while also earning First Team CSC Academic All-America honors. As a sophomore in fall 2021, he registered career highs in goals (six) and points (16) en route to his first-career All-Pac-12 honor.
Lepley is entering his third season in the Starting XI for UCLA. The Charlotte, N.C. native was voted Team MVP and earned all-region honors in fall of 2021 after leading the team with 17 points (5-7=17). Lepley missed most of the 2022 season while recovering from injury, but re-joined the squad late in the season and scored in five consecutive games to close out his campaign, helping the Bruins reach the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
UCLA opens the 2023 regular season this week, traveling to Harrisonburg, Va. for the Fairfield by Marriott Invitational hosted by James Madison. The Bruins open the tourney with a matchup against Virginia Tech on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. PT before facing the host Dukes on Sunday evening at 4:00 p.m. PT.
Stay tuned to @UCLAMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram for all team updates.
2023 Pac-12 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Washington (4) - 23 pts.
2. Stanford (1) – 21
3. UCLA (1) – 17
4. Oregon State – 15
5. California – 8
6. San Diego State - 6
2023 Pac-12 Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Javier Armas, Oregon State (M)
Shane de Flores, Stanford (M)
Sam Fowler, Washington (GK)
Nate Jones, Washington (D)
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Washington (M)
Tucker Lepley, UCLA (M)
Wyatt Meyer, California (M)
Tommy Silva, UCLA (D)
Christian Soto, Washington (M)
Ellis Spikner, Oregon State (F)
Dante Williams, Oregon State (M)
