Aug. 16, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The University of San Diego men's soccer team was picked second in the 2011 West Coast Conference preseason coaches poll, announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. The Toreros garnered 27 total points, trailing only Loyola Marymount, who was voted first with 36 total points and six first place votes. In third was Santa Clara with 26 points, followed by Portland with 21 points, and Saint Mary's in fifth place with 19 points and one first place vote. Rounding out the poll with a tie for sixth were Gonzaga and San Francisco, each with nine points.

The Toreros also placed two players on the preseason All-WCC team with junior forward Patrick Wallen and senior forward Stephen Posa. Wallen (Vasteras, Sweden) was last season's WCC Player of the Year and a first-team All-WCC selection after leading the conference in goals scored (12), points (25), and game-winning goals (5). Posa (San Diego, CA) was a second-team All-WCC selection last season after tallying a pair of goals and four assists.

USD finished the 2010 season in fourth place with a record of 9-7-3 (6-4-2 WCC). The Toreros open up the 2011 campaign on the road at UC Irvine on Friday, August 26th at 7:00 p.m. before returning for their home opener on Friday, September 2nd when they host Drake at 7:30 p.m. in the USD Nike Soccer Classic.

2011 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Loyola Marymount (6) 36
2. San Diego 27
3. Santa Clara 26
4. Portland 21
5. Saint Mary's (1) 19
6T. Gonzaga 9
6T. San Francisco 9

2011 Preseason All-West Coast Conference Team

Name School Yr, Pos.
Mykell Bates SCU SR D
Roger Downes LMU SR D
Steven Evans POR SO MF
Doug Herrick SMC SR GK
Erik Hurtado SCU JR F
Artur Jozkowicz LMU SR F/MF
Ryan Kawulok POR SR D
James Matern GON RSO MF
Stephen Posa USD SR F
Patrick Wallen USD SR F