The Cal Poly men’s soccer team was picked to finish third in the Big West preseason coaches’ poll.
Cal Poly (11-6-6, 5-2-3 last season) returns seven outfield starters and two All-Big West selections from a 2008 squad that matched the program record for total victories and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 seasons. The Mustangs picked up their first Division I postseason victory, 1-0 over UCLA to advance to the second round before falling to UC Irvine.
The Anteaters (15-2-6, 5-1-4), last year’s regular season and conference tournament champion, picked up two first place votes to finish second in the poll with 40 points. UC Santa Barbara (10-7-5, 5-2-3) finished first with four first place votes and 45 points. Cal State Northridge (8-7-4, 4-3-3) received the final first place vote, finishing two points behind Cal Poly.
The Mustangs fell to UC Santa Barbara 1-0 in double overtime last year in what would become the third highest attended regular season soccer match in collegiate history. The Gauchos defeated Cal Poly in penalty kicks in the Big West Semifinals, but the Mustangs earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Cal Poly will host San Diego State in an exhibition match Aug. 26 before officially kicking off the season at home against UNLV on Sept. 1.