UCLA Women’s Soccer Ranked Preseason No. 5

The UCLA women's soccer team will begin the season ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.

The defending Pac-12 champions advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 a year ago, falling to Clemson in a penalty kick shootout. The Bruins finished the year with a 13-1-3 record and went unbeaten in its last seven games. UCLA returns eight players who started at least 11 matches last season, along with its Top 4 scorers in Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Reilyn Turner (11 goals, 5 assists, 27 points), second-team All-American Mia Fishel (6g, 6a, 18 points), second-team All-Pac-12 honoree Marley Canales (4g, 6a, 14 points) and Pac-12 All-Freshman selection Sunshine Fontes (5g, 3a, 13 points). The Bruins also bring back All-American goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy (0.73 GAA, seven shutouts).

New to the squad are members of the No. 6-ranked recruiting class, including U.S. Youth National Team players Lilly Reale, Emma Egizii and Quincy McMahon, and youth internationals Clara Härdling and My Haugland Sørsdahl.  

UCLA will begin play on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 6pm with an exhibition contest against Pepperdine at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The stadium will be open to all fans, and admission is free. The 2021 season officially kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 19 with a 4pm matchup against UC Irvine.

Tickets to UCLA regular season home matches are on sale now at uclabruins.com/tickets.

2021 Preseason Rankings
1. Florida State (11 first place votes) – 794 points
2. Santa Clara (18) – 788
3. North Carolina (3) – 763
4. Virginia (1) – 723
5. UCLA – 672
6. Duke – 628
7. Clemson – 608
8. TCU – 587
9. Texas A&M – 539
10. Penn State – 500
11. Georgetown – 452
12. West Virginia – 435
13. Arkansas – 412
14. USC – 365
15. BYU – 353
16. Oklahoma State – 307
17. South Carolina – 298
18. Vanderbilt – 258
19. Washington – 253
20. South Florida – 216
21. Saint Louis – 175
22. Rice – 150
23. Mississippi – 123
24. Stanford – 73
25. Rutgers - 58