DENVER – Seattle University men's soccer has been picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on Tuesday morning. Akili Kasim and Noe Meza were both named Preseason All-WAC.
Grand Canyon, who won the WAC regular-season title in the spring, was narrowly voted the favorite in the poll, grabbing six first-place votes and 110 total points. Seattle U claimed four first-place nods and 108 points.
San Jose State picked up the other two first-place votes to rank third in the standings. Defending WAC Tournament champion Air Force was fourth, with UTRGV in fifth. California Baptist, UNLV, and Utah Valley filled the middle slots, while Incarnate Word and Dixie State took ninth and 10th, respectively. Houston Baptist and new WAC men's soccer member Chicago State rounded out the poll.
Meza, a graduate student from Sunnyside, Wash., was First Team All-WAC in the spring. He paced the Redhawks with four goals and three assists in nine appearances last season.
Kasim is a senior out of West Seattle. The goalkeeper earned Second Team All-WAC recognition in the spring campaign. In 10 starts last season, Kasim tallied a .810 save percentage and a 1.18 goals against average.
Seattle U kicks off the new season on Thursday, Aug. 26, as Cal State Fullerton visits Championship Field.
Grand Canyon, who won the WAC regular-season title in the spring, was narrowly voted the favorite in the poll, grabbing six first-place votes and 110 total points. Seattle U claimed four first-place nods and 108 points.
San Jose State picked up the other two first-place votes to rank third in the standings. Defending WAC Tournament champion Air Force was fourth, with UTRGV in fifth. California Baptist, UNLV, and Utah Valley filled the middle slots, while Incarnate Word and Dixie State took ninth and 10th, respectively. Houston Baptist and new WAC men's soccer member Chicago State rounded out the poll.
Meza, a graduate student from Sunnyside, Wash., was First Team All-WAC in the spring. He paced the Redhawks with four goals and three assists in nine appearances last season.
Kasim is a senior out of West Seattle. The goalkeeper earned Second Team All-WAC recognition in the spring campaign. In 10 starts last season, Kasim tallied a .810 save percentage and a 1.18 goals against average.
Seattle U kicks off the new season on Thursday, Aug. 26, as Cal State Fullerton visits Championship Field.