In its inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference, the UCLA men's soccer team has been selected to finish third by the coaches in the preseason poll.
The Bruins bring 13 conference championships, including the 2023 Pac-12 title, to the Big Ten. In 2023, UCLA posted a 9-4-5 overall record and finished 6-0-4 in conference play. The undefeated record in conference play marks the third time the Bruins have gone undefeated in conference action.
UCLA will host four opponents who are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll this season, welcoming No. 11 LMU on opening night on August 22, followed by No. 18 James Madison University on Aug. 25, No. 22 University of Portland on Aug. 30, and No. 7 Indiana on Oct. 25. Additionally the Bruins will play at Wisconsin, and against Indiana on the Big Ten Network. UCLA's first-ever Big Ten game will take place on Sept. 13 at Northwestern.
The Big Ten Conference also announced its Players to Watch List. Included in the list are senior forward Jose Contell, senior defender Pablo Greenlee, and senior midfielder Andre Ochoa.
Contell enters his fifth season in Westwood in 2024. The redshirt senior has been a consistent contributor for the Bruins during his three years in the lineup, netting at least 12 points in all three seasons. The Valencia, Spain, native scored a career-high five goals in 2021 and has tallied six assist seasons twice, in 2021 and 2023. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Contell was named to the All-Far West Region Second Team and was a 2023 Pac-12 Second Team selection.
Greenlee also enters his fifth season at UCLA. The Hollywood, California native has played 40 times for the Bruins over four seasons, making 14 starts. During the 2023 season, in which the Bruins earned the Pac-12 title, Greenlee made 11 appearances, with 10 starts.
Andre Ochoa embarks on his third season at UCLA, having transferred from San Diego State after his sophomore season. The senior from Anaheim, California, started all 18 of UCLA's games in 2023, and earned third-team all-Far West region honors and Pac-12 honorable mention accolades after tallying 15 points (4G, 7A) on the season. For his career in Westwood, Ochoa has seven goals and 11 assists over 39 appearances (36 starts).
2024 Big Ten Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Indiana (Unanimous)
2. Penn State
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. Maryland
8. Northwestern
9. Rutgers
10. Michigan
11. Wisconsin
The Bruins bring 13 conference championships, including the 2023 Pac-12 title, to the Big Ten. In 2023, UCLA posted a 9-4-5 overall record and finished 6-0-4 in conference play. The undefeated record in conference play marks the third time the Bruins have gone undefeated in conference action.
UCLA will host four opponents who are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll this season, welcoming No. 11 LMU on opening night on August 22, followed by No. 18 James Madison University on Aug. 25, No. 22 University of Portland on Aug. 30, and No. 7 Indiana on Oct. 25. Additionally the Bruins will play at Wisconsin, and against Indiana on the Big Ten Network. UCLA's first-ever Big Ten game will take place on Sept. 13 at Northwestern.
The Big Ten Conference also announced its Players to Watch List. Included in the list are senior forward Jose Contell, senior defender Pablo Greenlee, and senior midfielder Andre Ochoa.
Contell enters his fifth season in Westwood in 2024. The redshirt senior has been a consistent contributor for the Bruins during his three years in the lineup, netting at least 12 points in all three seasons. The Valencia, Spain, native scored a career-high five goals in 2021 and has tallied six assist seasons twice, in 2021 and 2023. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Contell was named to the All-Far West Region Second Team and was a 2023 Pac-12 Second Team selection.
Greenlee also enters his fifth season at UCLA. The Hollywood, California native has played 40 times for the Bruins over four seasons, making 14 starts. During the 2023 season, in which the Bruins earned the Pac-12 title, Greenlee made 11 appearances, with 10 starts.
Andre Ochoa embarks on his third season at UCLA, having transferred from San Diego State after his sophomore season. The senior from Anaheim, California, started all 18 of UCLA's games in 2023, and earned third-team all-Far West region honors and Pac-12 honorable mention accolades after tallying 15 points (4G, 7A) on the season. For his career in Westwood, Ochoa has seven goals and 11 assists over 39 appearances (36 starts).
2024 Big Ten Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Indiana (Unanimous)
2. Penn State
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. Maryland
8. Northwestern
9. Rutgers
10. Michigan
11. Wisconsin