Pac-12 men's soccer race heats up

• As the race for the Conference title heats up, No. 4 STANFORD leads the league with its 14-game unbeaten streak and 17 points in Pac-12 competition. No. 25 UCLA remained in the second spot in the league standings (10 total points) after collecting three points on Monday in its 6-0 win over California and playing to a 2-2 draw with Stanford. WASHINGTON follows close behind with eight points after dropping a 1-0 contest with Maryland. The Beavers return to competition with seven points and gear up to take on the Bay Area schools. CALIFORNIA found its first league victories, topping SAN DIEGO STATE and UCLA, 4-3. SAN DIEGO STATE heads East for a non-conference matchup against Wright State.

• With a win over Oregon State this week, Stanford would eliminate three teams from the race to the Conference crown.

• STANFORD continues to pace the league with its No. 3 NSCAA ranking, while UCLA climbed to No. 25. Additionally, WASHINGTON and CALIFORNIA received votes in the coaches' poll.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

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

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)

Pac-12 Networks' Sports Report unveiled the Pac-12 All-Century Men's Soccer Team on Oct. 19:

Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Player of the Century

Brad Friedel (UCLA, 1990-92)

Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Coach of the Century

Sigi Schmid (UCLA, 1980-98)

STARTING XI (4-3-3 Formation)

FORWARDS: Ante Razov (UCLA, 1992-95), Billy Thompson (UCLA, 1986-90), Robbie Findley (Oregon State, 2003-06).

MIDFIELD: Joe-Max Moore (UCLA, 1990-92), Cobi Jones (UCLA, 1988-91), Chris Henderson (UCLA, 1989-90).

DEFENSE: Carlos Bocanegra (UCLA, 1997-99), Paul Caligiuri (UCLA, 1982-86), Ryan Nelsen (Stanford, 1999-00), Frankie Hejduk (UCLA, 1992-94).

GOALKEEPER: Brad Friedel (UCLA, 1990-92)

RESERVES

FORWARD (3): Danny Mwanga (Oregon State, 2008-09); Ted Rafalovich (Stanford, 1978-81); Calen Carr (California, 2002-05)

MIDFIELD (4): Leo Stolz (UCLA, 2012-14); Eddie Lewis (UCLA, 1992-95); Dale Ervine (UCLA, 1982-85); C.J. Klaas (Washington, 2001-04)

DEFENSE (3): Steve Birnbaum (California, 2010-13); A.J. Soares (California 2007-10); Chad Marshall (Stanford, 2002-03)

GOALKEEPER (2): Matt Reis (UCLA, 1994-97); Nick Rimando (UCLA, 1997-99)

• PLAYER OF THE WEEK: California's Christian Thierjung, a junior forward from Dove Canyon, Calif., posted a hat trick in the 4-3, double-overtime win over San Diego State on Friday. His first goal came 46 seconds into the match, ending California’s 367-minute scoring drought. Thierjung additionally scored in the 27th minute, pushing the Cal lead to 3-1. He then claimed the game-winning goal in the 106th minute, sending the Bears to their first Conference win of the season.

• The third-ranked Stanford Cardinal is unbeaten in 14 straight contests after dropping its season opener to UC Santa Barbara and has won 12 in the time frame. The Cardinal is also unbeaten in its last 15 Conference matches dating back to last season.

• UCLA concluded the week with a 1-1-1 record and scored 11 goals over the time span, paced by Abu Danladi's six. The Bruins garnered four points, pushing them to second place in league standings. UCLA now heads East to take on No. 6 Akron on Sunday.

• Washington dropped its non-conference matchup to Maryland. Goalkeeper Ryan Herman has nine shutouts on the season, and the Huskies rank seventh nationally in goals against average at 0.52 GAA. The Washington defense will be tested as the Cardinal averages 15.57 shots per game, ranking 18th nationally.

• California picked up its first league win off the foot of Christian Thierjung, who scored the golden goal in the 106th minute to beat SDSU, 4-3. 

• After dropping two league contests, San Diego State takes a week off of Conference competition and heads to Wright State in Dayton, Ohio. Timmy Mueller ranks fifth in the league in goals per game at 0.46. He also ranks 10th nationally with four game-winning goals. 

• The Beavers had a week off of competition. Oregon State plays host to No. 4 Stanford and California.

• 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. 

• 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

• Stanford's Brandon Vincent was named one of ten finalists for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award®. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cup® championships in December.

• Adding to his weekly accolades, California's Christian Thierjung was named the NSCAA National Player of the Week.

• Thierjung's teammate Jose Carrera-Garcia was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week. UCLA's Abu Danladi landed on College Soccer News' National Team of the Week.

• UCLA's Brad Friedel was named Pac-12 Men's Soccer Player of the Century, while the Bruins' Sigi Schmid was named Pac-12 Men's Soccer Coach of the Century.

• As a member of Guam's Men's National Team, redshirt junior Travis Nicklaw was in Qatar and Turkmenistan last week for a 2018 World Cup Qualifying match against Turkmenistan on Oct. 13.  The San Diego native has helped the team to a 2-2-1 in round two of World Cup Qualifying with three matches remaining.

PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK:
Junior forward Christian Thierjung, California 

ALSO NOMINATED:

Abu Danladi, UCLA

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

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