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Two-time West Coast Conference soccer champion, San Diego was voted as the favorite to win the WCC mens soccer title in the 2001 WCC preseason poll, as selected by the conference coaches
Two-time West Coast Conference soccer champion, San Diego was voted as the favorite to win the WCC mens soccer title in the 2001 WCC preseason poll, as selected by the conference coaches. The Toreros were a unanimous pick for the number one slot receiving first place votes from each of the other six head coaches. USD will be led by seven-time WCC Coach of Year Seamus McFadden in his 23rd year as head coach of the program. Coach McFaddens squad takes aim at their third straight WCC title led by the leagues 2000 Co-Player of the Year, junior Ryan Coiner. Coiner led the conference in scoring with 42 points (17 goals, 8 assists) and ranked 13th in the nation in goals scored. USD returns Justin Neerhof in net along with his 0.73 goals against average from a year ago, ranked seventh nationally. Coming off its first omission from the NCAA tournament in six years, Santa Clara was picked to finish second by the league coaches in the preseason poll. The Broncos return eight starters from last seasons third place squad (10-7, 4-2 WCC). With the return of first team all-conference goalie, senior Rusty Johnson, and 2001 WCC Defender of Year Jeff Stewart, opponents will be hard pressed to get a goal. The Broncos posted a league leading 10 shutouts in 2000. Portland was picked to finish third and will rally to replace the loss of All-WCC performer Conor Casey. Junior Kelly Gray returns at forward after leading the WCC in goals scored in conference games with five. Last years second place team, Gonzaga earned the fourth slot in this years coaches preseason poll and will need new scorers to step to the forefront after losing WCC top ten scoring tandem Brian Ching and Jason Kuska to graduation. The league coaches voted Loyola Marymount to finish fifth this season, while voting San Francisco and Saint Marys to finish sixth and seventh, respectively. Men's Soccer 1. San Diego (6) 36 2. Santa Clara(1) 30 3. Portland 23 4. Gonzaga 21 5. Loyola Marymount 20 6. San Francisco 10 7. Saint Marys 7 (first place votes) -WCC-
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