In a vote of the Big West men’s soccer coaches, UCSB was tabbed the favorite to claim the league championship it was announced today.
UCSB claimed the top position after collecting 45 points, which included four first place votes. Seniors Martin Hedevag (3 g, 2 a) and David Walker (3 g, 1 a) return to lead UCSB in its quest for the conference crown. The Gauchos also have the services of talented sophomores Danny Barrera (1 g, 5 a), Luis Silva (1 g, 4 a) and Michael Tetteh (2 g, 1 a) as well as both goalkeepers who played extensive minutes a year ago in sophomoresKristopher Minton (1.433 gaa, 42 sv, 3 so) and Trond Helge Takset (2.08 gaa, 23 sv, 1 so). On the backline, junior Michael Boxall and C.J. Cintas (who redshirted in 2008) return.
The Gauchos have also added a slew of highly talented junior college transfers and incoming freshmen. In fact, Santa Barbara’s 2009 recruiting class was just recently ranked No. 4 in the country by College Soccer News. With the returning firepower and stellar group of newcomers, look for the Gauchos to reclaim their place among the Big West and college soccer’s elite.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2009 UCSB MEN’S SOCCER TEAM PAGE
UC Irvine claimed second in the poll after collecting two first place votes on the way to 40 points. The Anteaters won a school-record 15 matches last season and won their first regular season and Big West Tournament crowns. Irvine also made its inaugural NCAA appearance in 2008.
Cal Poly rounded out the top-three with 34 points. Cal State Northridge, which collected the final first place vote, was ranked fourth in the poll with 32 points, followed by UC Davis in fifth with 20 tallies. Cal State Fullerton (13 points) and UC Riverside (12 points) ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.
