UCSB received its highest preseason ranking from TopDrawerSoccer.com as the website rated the Gauchos as the No. 4 team in the country.
UCSB was ranked sixth by College Soccer News and No. 8 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in their preseason polls.
North Carolina is No. 1 on the TopDrawSoccer list of 48 teams followed by 2009 College Cup runner-up Akron and Maryland.
The five through 10 teams are Wake Forest, Tulsa, defending national champion Virginia, Northwestern, Duke and UCLA.
The Gauchos will play Duke and UCLA at Harder Stadium this season. They’ll face Big West rival UC Irvine, ranked 23rd, No, 29 Harvard and No. 33 New Mexico on the road.
In other news, College Soccer News, in its annual ranking of top recruiting classes, listed UCSB with the seventh best class in the nation.
In its analysis, CSN said of UCSB’s group of newcomers: “The Gauchos needed help up top due to the graduation of David Walker and in the back due to the graduation of Martin Hedevag. The help up top comes from Sam Garza, who is a transfer from Denver, and Gabby Okito, who is a transfer from Yavapai College. Freshman forward David Opoku, who Tim Vom Steeg describes as “a real key ingredient to what we are trying to do” adds another dimension to the UCSB offense. Yavapai College transfers Chris Hunter and Evan McNeil, who enrolled in January, will strengthen the Gauchos on the defensive side of the ball. Junior midfielder Christian Vazquez, who is a transfer from UCLA, is among other members of the class who should contribute. Vom Steeg has used the transfer route successfully in the past.”
Seven new Gauchos made their debuts on Meredith Field at Harder Stadium last Saturday in a 3-1 exhibition win over Westmont. Garza was impressive in his debut with a goal and an assist.
The Gauchos will play one more exhibition match on Friday against the Mexico U-20 National Team on Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. The match, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., is the nightcap of a doubleheader with the women’s soccer team. The 2-0 UCSB women are playing Saint Joseph’s at 5 p.m.
The UCSB men will open its official schedule on Sept. 1 when they travel to Cal State Bakersfield.
