UCLA Picked to Finish Third in Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's soccer team has been tabbed to finish third in the Pac-12 this season, as revealed in Tuesday's preseason poll of league coaches.

The Bruins garnered a pair of first-place votes, tied for the most of any team in the conference. UCLA totaled 18 points in the poll, just three behind co-favorites Oregon State and Washington.

Nationally, UCLA enters the season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches rankings.

The Bruins are coming off a successful 2021 campaign, winning 11 games overall, finishing third in the Pac-12 table, and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Those are all firsts for the program since the 2015 season.

UCLA returns the majority of its production from last year, including seven of 10 outfield starters. Each of the top six points-getters from last year's team are back, and returners constitute all but two of the team's 33 goals from a year ago.

The Bruins, who opened the 2022 campaign with an exhibition win over Westmont on Monday night, wrap their preseason schedule on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. with an exhibition against UNLV at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. UCLA officially opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 25 at home against UC Irvine.

Follow @UCLAMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram for all team updates.

2022 Pac-12 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll