Air Force secured the top spot in the 2022 WAC Men’s Soccer Championship on the strength of a 1-1 draw against San José State on Oct. 28. The Falcons found the equalizer in the 88th minute from Tyler Johnson to tie the match. Air Force officially clinched the number one seed when San José State fell to Grand Canyon on Oct. 30. Air Force previously earned the tournament’s top seed in both 2017 and 2018.

 

Outside of the top seed being locked up, the final five seeds in the 2022 WAC Men’s Soccer Championship have yet to be decided entering the season’s final match week. Four of the final five championship qualifiers, however, have been determined. Seattle U, California Baptist, Grand Canyon and San José State have each officially punched tickets to the conference tournament in Riverside, California.

 

Utah Valley and UTRGV remain the final two WAC teams chasing a bid into the 2022 men’s soccer tournament. Utah Valley can secure its place in the conference championship with a result at home against California Baptist on Nov. 4. UTRGV must beat Houston Christian on Nov. 5 along with a Utah Valley loss to make its third straight WAC tournament appearance.

 

Reigning conference offensive player of the week Shaun Joash from Grand Canyon climbed into the WAC points lead after a huge week for the Lopes. Joash scored a hat trick at Seattle U on Oct. 28 and chipped in an assist on the winning goal at San José State on Oct. 30 to take over the solo league lead in points (28) and tie Air Force’s Thaddaeus Dewing for the most goals (11) in the conference as of Nov. 1.

 

Seattle U is the active conference leader with five tournament championships (2013, ‘15, ‘17, ‘19, Fall ‘21) since joining the WAC. The Redhawks are the only team to appear in all 10 conference men’s soccer tournaments since joining the WAC prior to the 2013 season. Other active WAC members who have previously won the men’s soccer championship are Air Force (Spring ‘21), Grand Canyon (2018) and UNLV (2014, ‘16).