UCSB will start the men’s soccer season in an unfamiliar position in the national coaches poll.
The Gauchos are listed among the teams also receiving votes in the preseason rankings done by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. It marks the first time in several years they are not listed in the top 25. UCSB started last season ranked 18th. Its lowest preseason ranking in the last eight years is 23rd in 2013.
The Gauchos were No. 1 at the start of the 2007 season.
UC Irvine was the only Big West team to crack the top 25 at No. 20. Cal State Fullerton is listed ahead of UCSB among teams also receiving votes. The Titans got three votes to UCSB’s one.
The Gauchos’ nonconference schedule includes three top-25 teams, led by No. 1 UCLA; Stanford is ranked eighth and Akron is No. 25. New Mexico and Connecticut received votes.
UCSB returns three key members of last year’s team that won the Big West regular season title: Nick DePuy, the conference’s offensive player of the year; all-Big West midfielder Drew Murphy and left back Ismaila Jome.
The recruiting class has been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation and includes local players Justin Vom Steeg (coach Tim Vom Steeg’s son), Sam Strong and Geoffrey Acheampong. Forward Ahinga Selemani of Michigan is a marquee transfers.
The Gauchos open the season with their annual crosstown game against Westmont on Saturday night, Aug. 22.
NSCAA PRESEASON POLL
1. UCLA
2. Virginia
3. Georgetown
4. Notre Dame
5. North Carolina
6. Creighton
7. Providence
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State
10. Washington
11. Clemson
12. Maryland-Baltimore County
13. Maryland
14. Indiana
15. Syracuse
16. California
17. North Carolina-Charlotte
18. Louisville
19. Xavier
20. UC Irvine
21. Coastal Carolina
22. Saint Louis
23. Penn State
24. Old Dominion
25. Akron
Also receiving votes: Northwestern (35), Ohio State (30), Dartmouth (27), Connecticut (15), Furman (15), New Mexico (14), Tulsa (14), Wake Forest (13), Oregon State (10), George Mason (7), North Carolina-Wilmington (6), California State Fullerton (4), Kentucky (4),Alabama-Birmingham (3), Virginia Commonwealth (2), Hartford (1), South Florida (1), UCSB (1).
