SAN DIEGO – After winning their second consecutive WCC title in 2023, the San Diego men's soccer program (0-0, 0-0 WCC) is back in action in 2024, opening the regular season against No. 20 Duke (0-0, 0-0 ACC) on Thursday at 7 p.m., at Torero Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
- San Diego reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season but fell in a penalty kick shootout to California Baptist back in November of 2023.
- Cesar Bahena tallied a goal to open the scoring, but the Lancers rallied for the victory at Torero Stadium.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- San Diego enters the regular season seeking the program's third consecutive WCC title and another return to the NCAA Tournament.
- The Toreros were picked third in the highly competitive WCC preseason poll, behind only nationally ranked sides Oregon State and Portland, earning two first place votes.
- The Toreros also garnered votes in the preseason rankings, checking in at No. 30 nationally.
- Trevor Dillon was tabbed to the All-WCC Preseason Team for the second consecutive season.
- Dillon leads a nearly complete return of the defense in 2024, joined by Simon Duus Muller, Owen Walz and Ethan Warne.
- San Diego is set for a highly competitive schedule, that features four teams – Duke, LMU, Oregon State and Portland ranked in the preseason United Soccer Coaches rankings, as well as an additional three teams – California Baptist, Lipscomb and UC Irvine that made the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
- In addition, the Toreros will also have additional headline matchups, including against 2023 WCC co-champion Santa Clara, rematches against Grand Canyon and Cal State Fullerton, as well as crosstown showdowns with San Diego State and UC San Diego.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Head coach Brian Quinn is seven wins away from 50 in his career at the helm of the program.
- San Diego returns 63.5 percent of its scoring from last season, including Bahena and Samy Kanaan, who ranked second and third, respectively on the team's scoring leaderboard.
- San Diego is 11-1-2 over their last 14 WCC games.
- The Toreros have only lost two games in the last three seasons when they lead at halftime.
To stay up to date with Toreros men's soccer, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDmsoccer".
