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Huskies Kick Off 2022 Season On Thursday

Aug 24, 2022

SEATTLE – The No. 3/2 UW men's soccer team will kick off its 2022 season at home against Sacramento State Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Husky Soccer Stadium.  
 
UW-SACRAMENTO STATE HISTORY 
Washington is 8-0-0 all-time against Sacramento State. The last meeting between the two programs came on Oct. 31, 1999 in a 4-0 win for UW at home. 
 
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS 
The team enters the 2022 season ranked third by the United Soccer Coaches. This is the 31st straight week UW is ranked in the Top 10, marking the longest streak in the country.  
 
The team also received a No. 2 nod from Top Drawer Soccer. The No. 2 ranking by Top Drawer soccer is the highest preseason rank in program history.  
 
The Huskies were selected to finish first in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll, tied with Oregon State. The honor marked the third time since 2000 that UW was picked to win the conference. 
 
2021 – A SEASON TO REMEMBER 
The Huskies are coming off a season in which they placed second in the Pac-12, finishing with an 18-2-2 record in the 2021 season. The team's historic 2021 season came to an end with a 2-0 loss in the championship game against Clemson.  
 
The team also made the program's first-ever run to the College Cup and matched a program record of 18 wins which was set in 1982.  
 
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION 
Senior goalkeeper Sam Fowler is entering his final year with a load of preseason accolades, including being named to the United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch List while also ranking No. 8 on the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100.  
 
Fowler was also named Top Drawer Preseason Best XI First Team and College Soccer News Preseason First Team All-America. Fowler recorded 62 saves during the 2021 campaign with a 79.5 save percentage.  
 
Junior Midfielder Christian Soto was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Second Team, as well as ranking 15th on the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100.  
 
Soto played and started in 20 games for the Huskies last year and notched four assists on the year.  
 
Rounding out the preseason honors is first-year midfielder Richie Aman who was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Freshman Best XI.  
 
THE RETURNERS 
Washington returns 22 players from last season's College Cup final squad - including Gio Miglietti, Nick Scardina and Lucas Meek - all scoring four or more goals on the year. In addition, the Huskies return three others who recorded multiple assists.  
 
THE NEWCOMERS 
Washington welcomes 13 newcomers to the 2022 squad including 12 freshmen and one transfer. Redshirt senior Omar Grey makes his return up to Seattle for his final year of eligibility after spending the past three seasons at CSUN.  
 
Freshman Nani Deperro was named the 2021 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year. Deperro scored 32 goals with 19 assists on the season, including two goals in the state title game win over West Linn. 
 
Freshman Richie Aman enrolled early at UW during the Spring 2022 quarter and was able to train and go to Scotland with the team. 
 
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR 
Head coach Jamie Clark is four wins away from 150 at the helm of Washington. His 146 wins is the second most for a UW men's soccer coach, behind Dean Wurzberger (1992-2010).  
 
UP NEXT 
Washington will host Central Arkansas on Monday (Aug. 29) at Husky Soccer Stadium at 7:30 p.m.  
 
For more information on the UW men's soccer team, follow @UW_MSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.