The UCSB men’s soccer team is ranked 14th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America men’s preseason poll for Division 1 teams.
Louisville, last year’s NCAA College Cup runner-up, is the No. 1 team in the rankings followed by defending national champion Akron.
ACC powers North Carolina and Maryland are Nos. 3 and 4 and SMU holds down the No. 5 spot.
Pac-12 rivals UCLA and Cal were voted into the top 10 at No. 6 and 7, respectively, followed by Connecticut, Michigan and Creighton.
UCSB’s schedule includes three teams ranked in the top 25 — Akron, No. 23 Duke and No. 24 UC Irvine — and two others that received votes from the NSCAA — San Diego and West Virginia.
