UCLA, the 2006 NCAA Division I men's runner-up, is picked to win the Pac-10, marking the sixth straight year the Bruins are the preseason pick to win the conference title.
The Bruins
return 22 players and eight starters from last season's squad that finished the year at 14-6-4. Back are Soccer America's Freshman of the Year
David Estrada
(12 goals), No. 2-leading goal scorer
Jason Leopoldo (8 goals), Soccer America All-Freshman selection
Kyle Nakazawa (4
goals), and All-Far West defender
Mike Zaher, plus five players who started with various U.S. youth national teams over the summer (
Tony Beltran and
Brian Perk at the Under-20 World Cup and
Greg Folk,
Chance Myers and
Michael Stephens at the Pan-American Games). Back after being injured in 2006 is former U-17 captain
Brandon Owens The Bruins received 23 points, including three first-place votes, followed by California and Washington at 20 points. Stanford garnered 13 points to claim
fourth place, while San Diego State earned nine points for fifth. Oregon State rounded out the poll, receiving five points.