Pac-12 Men's Soccer reaches halfway mark

PAC-12 LEADERS: Pac-12 men’s soccer action continues with No. 10 STANFORD and No. 21 UCLA vying for a solo spot on top of the Conference standings as the two ranked teams have nine points each. The Cardinal has experienced fluctuation in the United Soccer Coaches poll this season after starting out as the No. 1 team in the preseason poll to receiving votes in Week 3, the Pac-12 coaches favorite returns to the top-10 for the first time since Aug. 28. UCLA has ranked as high as No. 8 this season and moves from receiving votes to the top 25 in the latest national poll following a pair of shutout victories last week. Three Pac-12 teams hold a top-35 NCAA RPI with Stanford at No. 18, UCLA at No. 21 and WASHINGTON at No. 34.

Stanford (6-1-3, 3-0-0) has found a rhythm in the final third, scoring a program-record 10 goals in its first three Pac-12 contests, which surpassed the previous school-best of nine (2017, 2001). Stanford defeated CALIFORNIA, 4-2, last week for a program record nine-straight Conference wins. The Cardinal’s impressive 14-game unbeaten streak in league play is three shy of its all-time record, which ranks 15th in Conference history. Despite surrendering two goals for the first time in over a year, the Cardinal still ranks second nationally in team goals-against average (0.375) and save percentage (.892), while owning the third-best shutout percentage (.700).

UCLA (7-4-0, 3-1-0) blanked Washington and California by identical 1-0 margins to move into a tie for first place in the Pac-12 standings with the undefeated Cardinal squad. The Bruins’ two clean sheets lowered its goals against average to .450 for the second-best percentage in the league. UCLA goalkeepers Cole Martinez and Justin Garces have shared the responsibility in goal as both are tied for second in the Pac-12 in goal against average (1.00). In only his fifth game of the season, Milan Iloski scored his second game-winner against the Huskies for the second-most in the league.

CALIFORNIA (5-4-2, 1-2-0) rallied back from a two-goal deficit to push the game within one score before falling to Stanford, 4-2. Cal forward Shinya Kadono tops the Conference charts in seven-of-nine offensive statistical categories, including total points (22), goals, (10) and shots (41).

OREGON STATE (5-4-2, 1-2-0) created several dangerous opportunities last week, but couldn’t find an equalizer in its two narrow losses to San Diego State, 1-0, and Washington, 1-0. Freshman goalkeeper Adrian Fernandez has made remarkable contributions during in his rookie campaign and leads the Conference with 32 saves while ranking second in save percentage (.711) and saves per game (2.91).

Washington (6-5-0, 1-2-0) snapped its four-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over San Diego State on Sunday. Freshman Dylan Teves sealed the deal with a breakaway-goal in the 72nd minute, assisted by senior Kyle Coffee for his second helper of the match and fourth on the year, which ranks third in the Pac-12.

SAN DIEGO STATE’s (5-5-1, 1-3-0) senior leadership prevailed at the hands of Damian German, who scored the game-winner in the Aztecs’ 1-0 win over Oregon State. SDSU exchanged scoring chances with Washington before dropping a 2-1 loss, breaking its five-game home win streak. Aztecs’ captain Pablo Pelaez tallied a goal and assist over the two contests and leads the team in goals (5), points (13) and shots (20) so far this season.

PREVIEWING THE WEEK: Pac-12 matchups start on Thursday with Oregon State hosting Stanford at 6 p.m. PT followed by California versus Washington at 7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network. UCLA battles San Diego State under the lights on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT for the lone match of the day. Two games are set for broadcast on Sunday with California facing Oregon State at 1 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Bay Area and Stanford against Washington at 3 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks.

NATIONAL STATS:  Stanford ranks eighth in assists per game (2.40) with contributions coming from four attackers in the Conference’s top five assists leaders group. Cardinal goalkeeper Thomas Andrew ranks second nationally in goals-against average (0.377) and third in save percentage (0.882), while holding the seventh-most shutouts with six. California’s Shinya Kadono continues to shine in the national ranks after two weeks of Conference play. A two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week recipient this season, Kadono ranks sixth in total goals (10), seventh in total points (22) and goals per game (0.91) and tenth in points per game (2.0).

UCLA’s AJ Vasquez represented the Pac-12 on the TopDrawer Soccer Team of the Week for his resilient defensive performances last week. Vasquez returned from an injury to help UCLA record a pair of clean sheets last week with two close 1-0 victories over Oregon State and Washington.

PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Defender Tanner Beason scored his first goals of the season in Stanford’s 4-2 win at California on Sunday for its ninth-straight Pac-12 victory. The junior’s first goal came on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute and then got on the end of a lofted corner kick for a header finish in the 68th minute to gain a 3-1 advantage. Beason’s brace later proved to be the game-winner.

MAC HERMANN NOMINEE WATCH: Drake Callender of California and Erik Holt of UCLA represent the Pac-12 on the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. Goalkeeper Callender has made 29 saves for a .674 save percentage this season. Holt controlled the midfield to help the Bruins blank Washington and Oregon State both by 1-0 scores. UCLA outshot OSU 21-8 and didn’t allow a single shot on goal during the match.

Twenty eight players from NCAA Division I schools around the country have been marked as potential contenders for the 2017 Missouri Athletic Club’s (MAC) Hermann Trophy. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, presented annually to one male and one female athlete.

TOPDRAWERSOCCER PRESEASON BEST XI: Stanford defender Tanner Beason, two-time All-Pac-12 first team selection, has been selected to the preseason All-Pac-12 team and the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI first team. UW defender Quentin Pearson was named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Best XI third team while new teammate Ethan Bartlow earned a spot on the freshman team. Including Bartlow, the Pac-12 had three TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI freshman team selections, which tied for the most of any conference in the country. UCLA was the only school to land two incoming players on the team with forward Matt Hundley and goalkeeper Justin Garces.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Stanford has been predicted to win the 2018 Pac-12 men’s soccer title by the Conference’s head coaches for the second-straight season. Washington was picked to finish second in the league as the Huskies bring back strong leadership with 12 upperclassmen from last season's NCAA Tournament team. UCLA is slated to finish third followed by Oregon State and San Diego State tied for fifth place in the Conference poll.

PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12: Stanford and Washington lead the preseason All-Pac-12 team with three honorees each followed by UCLA and Cal with two selections. The preseason team consists of 11 field players and one goalkeeper and features eight returning 2017 All-Pac-12 honorees. Reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Blake Bodily of Washington and Drake Callender of California and Erik Holt of UCLA headline the preseason All-Pac-12 team.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Times PDT)