WAC Coaches Select Grand Canyon, Rasmussen, Easley as Preseason Favorites
DENVER – Grand Canyon is the preseason favorite to win the 2021 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer title and the Lopes' Justin Rasmussen and Esai Easley were selected as the WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year respectively in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Lopes received six of 12 first-place votes to finish with 110 points for the preseason nod. Seattle U was just two points back, picking up four first-place votes to tally 108 points. San José State grabbed the final two first place votes to finish third with 94 points. Air Force was fourth with 89 points, followed closely by UT Rio Grande Valley in fifth with 86 points. California Baptist was sixth with 76 points, UNLV was seventh with 68 points and Utah Valley was eighth with 55 points. UIW was ninth, followed by Dixie State and Houston Baptist in a tie for 10th and Chicago State rounding out the poll in 12th.
Rasmussen and Easley were joined on the Preseason All-WAC squad by teammate Maximilian Moeller. San José State also had three honored with Willy Miranda, Max Allen and Carlos Gomez Zavala earning recognition. Seattle U was represented by Noe Meza and Akili Kasim. Also earning recognition were Air Force's London Aghedo, California Baptist's Thomas Beecham and UT Rio Grande Valley's Reshaun Walkes.
2021 Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Grand Canyon (6) |
110 |
| 2. |
Seattle U (4) |
108 |
| 3. |
San José State (2) |
94 |
| 4. |
Air Force |
89 |
| 5. |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
86 |
| 6. |
California Baptist |
76 |
| 7. |
UNLV |
68 |
| 8. |
Utah Valley |
55 |
| 9. |
UIW |
38 |
| T10. |
Dixie State |
27 |
| T10. |
Houston Baptist |
27 |
| 12. |
Chicago State |
14 |
2021 Preseason All-WAC Team
Willy Miranda, Sr., F, San José State
Maximilian Moeller, So., F, Grand Canyon
Reshaun Walkes, Jr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Max Allen, Sr., MF, San José State
Carlos Gomez Zavala, Sr., MF, San José State
Noe Meza, Sr., MF, Seattle U
Justin Rasmussen, Sr., MF, Grand Canyon
London Aghedo, Jr., D, Air Force
Thomas Beecham, So., D, California Baptist
Esai Easley, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Akili Kasim, Jr., GK, Seattle U
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Rasmussen, Grand Canyon
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Esai Easley, Grand Canyon