DENVER – Reigning tournament champion Seattle U was selected as the Western Athletic Conference’s (WAC) favorite in the 2022 WAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released on Wednesday.
The Redhawks received eight first-place votes and 80 voting points to enter the 2022 season as the conference favorite based on polling of all 10 men’s soccer member head coaches. Last season’s conference runner-up Grand Canyon received the remaining two first-place votes and placed second in the predicted order of finish with 68 points.
Grand Canyon senior forward Shaun Joash was selected as the 2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Joash was an all-conference first-team choice and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team in 2021 after scoring nine goals and tallying 22 points for the Lopes.
Air Force senior defender London Aghedo was the top vote-getter for 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Aghedo was a first-team all-conference choice in each of the past two seasons with the Falcons and notched a goal and five assists over 17 starts in 2021.
California Baptist had three players named to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Team to lead all member squads. Grand Canyon, Seattle U and Utah Valley each boasted two selections apiece, while Air Force and San Jose State were also represented on the preseason all-conference team.
2022 WAC MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON HONORS
2022 WAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Rank
|
Team (1st-Place Votes)
|
Points
|
|
1.
|
Seattle U (8)
|
80
|
|
2.
|
Grand Canyon (2)
|
68
|
|
3.
|
California Baptist
|
61
|
|
4.
|
Utah Valley
|
58
|
|
5.
|
Air Force
|
50
|
|
6.
|
San Jose State
|
43
|
|
7.
|
UNLV
|
32
|
| |
UTRGV
|
32
|
|
9.
|
Utah Tech
|
14
|
|
10.
|
Houston Baptist
|
12
|
2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Shaun Joash, Grand Canyon
2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: London Aghedo, Air Force
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Bryan Iliohan, Sr., F, California Baptist
Shaun Joash, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Declan McGlynn, Sr., F, Seattle U
Diego Castillo, So., MF, Utah Valley
Brian Gonzalez, Grad, MF, California Baptist
Alejandro Silva, So., MF, Utah Valley
London Aghedo, Jr., D, Air Force
Thomas Beecham, Jr., D, California Baptist
Kasper Poulsgaard, Sr., D, San Jose State
Rodolfo Prado, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Akili Kasim, Grad, GK, Seattle U
- WAC -