Men's Soccer Picked to Win WCC; Two Named Preseason All-Conference

Posted: Aug 18, 2016

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer was picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference preseason poll. It was announced on Thursday after the league's eight coaches voted. The Broncos amassed 45 points in the poll and four first-place votes. For the third time in the last four years, four different teams received at least one first-place vote.

The Broncos will look to defend their 2015 WCC title, a feat that has not been accomplished in the WCC since 2006 and 2007 when the Broncos won back-to-back league championships.

"On these preseason polls I think it's always a great recognition for maybe how last year finished and how well we were playing at the end of the year," head coach Cameron Rast said. "It also helps to create a great expectation that we should be playing at that level. For me, being picked to finish first in the WCC is great for the guys as a goal to shoot for. In the end we want to play well and we want to earn the results that we get. The rest of it is just a created expectation that this is what we are capable of and that's good for us to shoot for."

Juniors Valdemar Andersen and Carlos Delgadillo were two of the 11 student-athletes named to the Preseason All-WCC team.

Andersen was a 2015 First Team All-WCC honoree for his work as a defender. During his sophomore campaign, Andersen started 19 games for the Broncos and helped spearhead a defense that posted a goals against average of 1.13 over 20 games, the second-best mark in the league. Andersen and his teammates also posted six shutouts on the year.

Delgadillo missed three games during the 2015 season but was still the league's leading scorer with 10 goals on the season. He garnered 2015 First Team All-WCC accolades as not only a prolific goal scorer but also a willing passer, dishing out four assists on the season.

"Both Carlos and Valdemar are really important pieces to our team," Rast said. "They are important players for our team. When you look at the times they've been healthy and when they have been on the field and playing well, our team has gone as those two have gone. That's not to say there aren't a lot of other supporting players and impactful players that really make a difference in our group but those two are guys that will help lead and be important performers."

The first chance to see the Broncos is set for Saturday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Sacramento State in an exhibition match at Stevens Stadium.

2016 WCC Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches Poll

Team (First Place Votes)	Pts.
1. Santa Clara (4)	45
T2. San Diego (2)	38
T2. San Francisco	38
4. Loyola Marymount (1)	34
5. Saint Mary's (1)	27
6. Portland	21
7. Gonzaga	13
8. Pacific	8

2016 All-WCC Preseason Men's Soccer Team

Name	Institution	Yr.	Pos.
Christian Aldama	Pacific	Jr.	D
Valdemar Andersen	Santa Clara	Jr.	D
Alex Braman	Saint Mary's	Sr.	D
Carlos Delgadillo	Santa Clara	Jr.	F
David Garrett	San Francisco	Sr.	F
Alvaro Madrigal	Loyola Marymount	Jr.	F
Davi Ramos	San Francisco	Sr.	M
Eddie Sanchez	Portland	Sr.	M
Rafael Sanchez	Saint Mary's	Sr.	D
Michael Turner	San Diego	Sr.	M
Ben White	Gonzaga	Jr.	D

Tickets: Season or single-game tickets are available. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Group discounts are also available through our ticket office sales and service consultants. Gates to Stevens Stadium, as well as its ticket office, are open one hour prior to the start of the match.

Parking: For weekday matches, the Leavey Center lot, located on Accolti Way off El Camino Real, is free beginning one hour prior to kickoff. Any other parking facility on campus will be subject to normal daily rates or restrictions, including the main structure, located adjacent to Stevens Stadium on Palm Drive. During the weekend, campus parking facilities are free (except for permit required locations). Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.