With the 2009 goalkeeper, midfielder and freshman of year among nine starters returning for the UCSB men’s soccer team, it’s no wonder the Gauchos were the top pick by the coaches to win the Big West title.
UCSB received 48 points and six first-place votes from the conference coaches in the preseason poll. UC Irvine got one first-place vote and 43 points. Ca Poly was third with 28 points and Cal State Northridge fourth with 27.
UCSB won last year’s regular season title and lost in the final of the Big West Tournament to Irvine. The Gauchos advanced to their eighth straight NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the third round to UCLA and finished with a 17-5-2 record.
With a premier recruiting class, the transfer of U.S. Under-20 National Team forward Sam Garza from Denver and defenders Evan McNeil and Chris Hunter becoming eligible, the 2010 season has the potential to be an exciting one for the Gauchos.
Among the Gaucho returnees are Big West Goalkeeper of the Year Sam Hayden, who set a school record with 16 shutouts last season; Big West Midfielder of the Year Danny Barrera (9 assists, 5 goals in conference in ’09) and Big West Freshman of the Year Machael David. All-conference selections Luis Silva, Michael Boxall, Michael Nonni, Michael Tetteh and Waid Ibrahim are also back to make a run for the conference title and the College Cup, which UCSB is hosting in December.
The Gauchos are ranked as one of the top teams nationally, ranking sixth in the College Soccer News preseason poll and No. 8 in the NSCAA preseason poll.
The Gauchos open the 2010 season this Saturday when they host Westmont in an exhibition match on the newly resurfaced Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
2010 Big West Preseason Poll
1 UC Santa Barbara (6) 48 points
2 UC Irvine (1) 43 points
3 Cal Poly 28 points
4 Cal State Northridge 27 points
5 Cal State Fullerton 22 points
6 UC Davis 17 points
7 UC Riverside 11 points
