Men's soccer primed for Conference contests

• Pac-12 teams wrapped up non-conference play last weekend. As teams around the country head into league play, the Conference allowed 45 goals, the fewest league in the NCAA.

• STANFORD leads the league with its No. 3 NSCAA ranking, while WASHINGTON ranks No. 15. OREGON STATE and CALIFORNIA both received votes in the coaches' poll.

• NEVER SAY NEVER: In its three contests last week, UCLA recorded two come-from-behind victories. The Bruins scored two unanswered goals to top VCU, 2-1. Two days later against UC Irvine, despite being down to 10 men and three goals, the Bruins made an improbable comeback with four unanswered goals for the victory, 4-3. Jose Hernandez had the game-tying and game-winning goal for UCLA. Here is Christian Miles and Cobi Jones on the recap.

• PLAYER OF THE WEEK: UCLA's Seyi Adekoya, a sophomore forward from Seattle, Wash., scored four goals over three games last week for UCLA. His four goals over the weekend helped the Bruins to a 2-1 weekend record. Against UCSB, Adekoya scored the first goal in UCLA’s two-goal effort. The striker then went on to score the opening goal in UCLA’s 2-1 victory over VCU.

• No. 3 Stanford heads into Conference play from a two-week break from competition and finishes non-conference play with the best record in the league. The Cardinal is primed to defend its Conference title, taking on California on Sunday, Oct. 4 in Berkeley.

• Washington had its undefeated streak snapped, falling 2-1 to Seattle U. The Huskies have only allowed four goals this season, equating to a .46 team goals-against-average. Ranking fifth nationally in that category, Sr. GK Ryan Herman and the Husky defense looks to continue its success into league play.

• The Golden Bears rank third nationally in assists per game at 3.00. Of California's 15 goals to date, only one was unassisted.  

• SAN DIEGO STATE heads into Pac-12 play coming off a non-conference win, 1-0 over Pacific. The Aztecs begin Conference play with their best record in 10 seasons on Fri., Oct. 2 at Washington at 6 p.m.

• Oregon State dropped its third-consecutive one-goal loss on Sunday. The Beavers will look to F Timmy Mueller, who is the Pac-12 leader in shots (24) and averages 2.13 shots on goal per game to get back in the win column.

• COMPLETE CAMPAIGN: Pac-12 students are known for their success on the field, but they are also impressive, complete people with outside interests, diverse backgrounds, extracurricular activities, interesting families, busy schedules, and full lives. 

• #Complete12 – UCLA's Gage Zerboni is heavily involved in the Dance Marathon. With thousands of participants, live music, and appearances by celebrities and activists alike, Dance Marathon at UCLA has raised nearly $4.5 million in its fourteen-year history ($446,157.05 last year alone), benefiting HIV-affected children around the world.

• The Pac-12 Network will broadcast 35 matches in 2015. UCLA alumnus and former MLS player Cobi Jones will continue to cover all the action on the Networks alongside analysts Christopher Sullivan and Kelly Gray. Rich Cellini and JB Long continue play-by-play duties, along with Miles, Jim Watson, Rich Burk and Troy Clardy.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• The Bruins' SO F Seyi Adekoya was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week.

• The No. 3 Stanford men’s soccer team was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Wednesday with the College Team Academic Award for the 2014-15 academic year. The Cardinal posted a cumulative 3.29 GPA during 2014-15.

• Stanford's Jordan Morris was called up to the U.S. U23 Men's National Team roster. The U.S. will compete in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which will be played across the United States from Oct. 1-13. The USA will look to clinch a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The first match is Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. CT versus Canada.

• San Diego State announced the hiring of two assistant coaches. Jeffrey “Ziggy” Korytoski and Tony Vigil join Kirshner’s staff for his 16th season at the helm of the Aztecs’ program in 2015. Korytoski will be in charge of recruiting, while Vigil will handle all scouting. 

• Stanford Sr. D Brandon Vincent was one of 30 NCAA men’s soccer student-athletes selected as a candidate for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award®, announced Sept. 10.

PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK:
Sophomore forward Seyi Adekoya, UCLA 

ALSO NOMINATED:

Timmy Mueller, OSU; Ernest Reyes, SDSU

2015 PAC-12 MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

PAC12/PACAZ/PACBA/PACLA/PACMT/PACOR/PACWA - Indicates live broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)

NATIONAL HONORS

MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
Michael Amick, UCLA; Jordan Morris, Stanford; Brandon Vincent, Stanford

IN THE PRESEASON

Pac-12 Preseason Poll | NSCAA Preseason Poll | CSN Preseason Poll