Pac-12 Men's Soccer Weekly Release - Sept. 28, 2021

Schedule | Standings | Statistics | NCAA Statistics | Record Book

Conference play heats up

• Five Conference matches dot this week's schedule, with two Top-25 meetings and four contests set for broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
• The marquee matches of the week will see league-leading sides SAN DIEGO STATE (6-0-2, 2-0-0) and UCLA (6-2-0, 2-0-0) visiting WASHINGTON (7-0-0, 0-0-0). The No. 13 Aztecs visit the No. 2 Huskies on Thursday on Pac-12 Washington, followed by the No. 23 Bruins against the Huskies on Sunday on Pac-12 Network.
• OREGON STATE (4-1-1, 0-0-0) will also welcome UCLA and SDSU for its league openers.
• STANFORD (3-4-1, 0-2-0) will host the Big Clasico versus CALIFORNIA (2-5-1, 0-2-0) at 5:00 p.m. PT to cap Sunday's trio of league contests.

Strength of the Pac

• Pac-12 teams combined to go 4-2-1 last week to improve to a gaudy 24-8-5 collectively in non-conference play this fall, a .716 win percentage that is tied as the best of any NCAA Division I conference (MAC .716).
• Of the league's eight non-conference losses, three have come against current nationally ranked sides (CAL 1-0 vs. No. 9 LMU, OSU 1-0 vs. No. 20 Grand Canyon, STAN 3-1 at No. 12 SMU).
• Seven additional non-conference matches remain in October and November.

UCLA latest to join Top 25

• UCLA earned its first national ranking since Week 8 (10/16) of the 2018 season, appearing at No. 23 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Washington climbed to No. 2 and San Diego State improved to No. 13. For the Aztecs, it matches their highest ranking since coming in at No. 13 on Oct. 4, 2016.
• The Pac-12's three ranked programs are second-most nationally to the ACC's five. Five of the Pac-12's six sides have appeared in the United Coaches Top 25 this season.

Battle of the unbeatens

• Thursday's meeting between the Aztecs and Huskies will pit two of the final 10 NCAA Division I teams without a loss this season, as well as the two stingiest defenses in the Pac-12.
• Washington is 1-of-4 teams nationally with a perfect record so far this season, joining No. 1 Georgetown, No. 6 New Hampshire and No. 7 Tulsa. The Huskies are second in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally with a 0.411 goals-against average.
• San Diego State joins the Huskies as 1-of-10 teams without a loss yet this NCAA Division I season. The Aztecs lead all of NCAA Division I with a 0.117 GAA.

Key performers

• Two Washington players collected national recognition this week in keeping the Huskies perfect with two road wins last week - defender Kendall Burks was named Pac-12 Player of the Week and to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, while forward Nick Scardina was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week. Scardina scored the golden goal in UW's 2-1 win at city rival Seattle U last week.

College Soccer News National Teams of the Week
Aug. 31 - Lucas Meek, Washington
Sept. 7 - Jack Singer, California; Ousseni Bouda, Stanford; Lucas Meek, Washington
Sept. 21 - Jacob Castro, San Diego State; Ryan Sailor, Washington
Sept. 28 - Kendall Burks, Washington

Top Drawer Soccer National Teams of the Week
Aug. 31 - Lucas Meek, Washington
Sept. 7 - Jack Singer, California; Tyrone Mondi, Oregon State; Lucas Meek, Washington
Sept. 21 - Jacob Castro, San Diego State; Ryan Sailor, Washington
Sept. 28 - Nick Scardina, Washington