Aug. 13, 2003
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The WCC is the conference that many of the top women's soccer prospects are looking to when selecting a league to compete in. The league was ranked third in the nation in conference recruiting for the upcoming 2003 season by Soccer Buzz.
With back-to-back national titles from Santa Clara in 2001 and Portland in 2002, recruits are taking notice that some of the most competitive soccer is being played on the West Coast. In the highly competitive West region, all eight WCC schools are ranked in the top-25 in regards to incoming recruiting classes, making the league arguably the toughest conference in the nation.
Leading the way is Santa Clara, who welcome in the top recruiting class in the nation, equaling its haul from 1998 that produced a national championship four years later. Portland, the defending national champions, is right behind the Broncos with the No. 3recruiting class in the West and the fourth best in the nation.
Pepperdine, 2002 WCC regular season co-champions with Santa Clara, welcomes in the eighth recruiting class in the West and the 30th best in the nation, followed by Loyola Marymount with the 10th recruiting class in the West and the 39th best in the nation.
Saint Mary's reloads with the 13th best recruiting class in the West, followed by Gonzaga at 16th, San Diego at 17th and San Francisco at 18th.
2003 Conference Recruiting Rankings by Soccer Buzz
1. ACC2. PAC 10
3. West Coast
4. Big East
5. Big 12
6. SEC
7. Big Ten
8. Ivy
9. Conference USA
10. Mountain West
11. WAC
12. Colonial
13. Missouri Valley
14. Atlantic 10
15. Big West
16. Patriot
17. Big Sky
18. Mid American
19. Southern
20. America East
21. Sun Belt
22 Horizon
23. Atlantic Sun
24. Mid-Continent
25. Ohio Valley
26. Southland
27. Big South
28. MAAC
29. Independents
30. Northeast
31. SWAC