College Soccer News has ranked the UCSB men’s soccer sixth in its preseason top 30.
The Gauchos, who return nine starters and have one of the top recruiting classes in the country, are the highest rated team from the West. UCLA is eighth, Stanford 14th, UC Irvine 20th and Sacramento State 28th.
Akron, which was ranked No. 1 for most of last season and lost in the 2009 College Cup final to Virginia, is the top-rated team in the 2010 CSN poll. The Zips return their entire back four, which was one of the best in the country last year.
The ACC has four teams in the top 10, led by No. 2 North Carolina. Maryland and Virginia are third and fourth, respectively, and Wake Forest seventh.
Rounding out the top 10 are Tulsa at No. 5, Monmoth at No. 9 and Ohio State at No. 10.
UCSB is hosting the 2010 NCAA Men’s College Cup at Harder Stadium, Dec. 10-12.
The Gauchos open their season on Aug. 21 at Harder Stadium with an exhibition game against Westmont. Their regular-season opener is Sept. 1 at Cal State Bakersfield.
