Tritons Selected as Favorites for CCAA Men's Soccer Title
SAN RAMON – After sweeping the conference and West Region titles in 2016, UC San Diego has been selected in the coaches’ poll as the favorite for the 2017 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s soccer title.
The Tritons received eight first-place votes with 130 points to top Cal State LA and Sonoma State, a pair of squads collecting 118 points apiece to tie for the No. 2 spot. The Seawolves finished as the CCAA Tournament runner-up in 2016.
Cal Poly Pomona trails CSULA and SSU by just two points in the 2017 poll, earning the fourth spot with 116 points. In the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, Cal State Dominguez Hills collected 105 points and Chico State earned 96.
San Francisco State (77) led the second half of the standings, followed by Cal State San Bernardino (73), Stanislaus State (51), Cal State San Marcos (49), Cal State Monterey Bay (33), Humboldt State (25), and Cal State East Bay (23).
UCSD, ranked 10th in the final NSCAA regular-season poll, reached the national semifinals to produce its best campaign in its Division II history. The Tritons were first-time champions of the CCAA, CCAA Tournament and Division II West Region. At 19-3-2, they tied with four other teams for the most wins in the nation.
In the 2016 CCAA preseason poll, UCSD was picked to finish fifth. Eight Tritons earned All-CCAA honors last year and five were seniors. Heading into the 2017 campaign, some of UCSD’s top returners include All-CCAA Second Team honoree Kelvin Uribe and Honorable Mention selections Nolan Mac and Malek Bashti.
Cal State LA has won 10 or more games in six-straight seasons and reached the CCAA Championship Tournament also in six-straight years. The Golden Eagles have 15 players returning, including all-conference forward Steven Eberle and all-conference midfielders Samuel Croucher and Tim Klefisch.
Sonoma State posted a 10-5-5 record in 2016, the third 10-win season in the last four years. The Seawolves made an appearance in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010. SSU’s defensive effort will be bolstered by senior Eric Alvarado, an All-CCAA Second Team selection in 2016.
Ranked at No. 4 in the preseason poll, Cal Poly Pomona has several key returners. Senior forward Sergi Monso and junior defender Nadeer Ghantous both received All-CCAA First Team honors last year. The Broncos went 13-6-3 in 2016 and reached the West Region title game.
The 2017 Men’s Soccer Tournament will continue its six-team format with first round contests played at campus sites. Play is schedule to begin Tuesday, Oct. 31 at campus sites. Semifinal and Final rounds will be held at Triton Stadium in La Jolla and are set for Friday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 5, respectively. The winner of the Men’s Soccer Tournament will earn the Conference’s automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division II West Regional.
UCSD begins its 2017 campaign ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Preseason national rankings while Cal Poly Pomona holds the No. 15 spot.
Regular season play begins on Thurs., Aug. 31 with 12 of the 13 teams in action. A pair of 12:30 p.m. matchups in San Bernardino and Seaside will kickoff CCAA play on Friday, Sept. 15 as the Coyotes host the Golden Eagles and the Otters take on the Seawolves.
| 2017 CCAA Men's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
Institution |
Points (first-place votes) |
| 1. |
UC San Diego |
130 (8) |
| t-2. |
Cal State LA |
118 (1) |
| t-2. |
Sonoma State |
118 (1) |
| 4. |
Cal Poly Pomona |
116 (3) |
| 5. |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
105 |
| 6. |
Chico State |
96 |
| 7. |
San Francisco State |
77 |
| 8. |
Cal State San Bernardino |
73 |
| 9. |
Stanislaus State |
51 |
| 10. |
Cal State San Marcos |
49 |
| 11. |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
33 |
| 12. |
Humboldt State |
25 |
| 13. |
Cal State East Bay |
23 |