WALNUT CREEK – Cal State L.A.’s men’s soccer team has been picked to finish third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division and to reach the four-team conference championship tournament for a fifth straight season.
The Golden Eagles, the 2009 CCAA South Division champions, were picked to finish third in the division in 2010, behind Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Bernardino in voting done by the conference coaches. Sonoma State was favored to win the North Division.
Sonoma State was also picked to win the conference championship. Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Bernardino were picked to reach the conference tournament and Cal State L.A. and Cal State Stanislaus tied for the fourth and final spot.
Cal State L.A. has reached the conference tournament four straight seasons. The championship tournament will be held at Cal State Stanislaus for a second straight season on Nov. 5-7.
The Golden Eagles, who won the CCAA South Division last year with a conference-best 13-2-1 record (40 points), received one first-place vote and had 47 points. Cal State Dominguez Hills, which won the conference tournament and the CCAA championship, received six first-place votes and 58 points to edge Cal State San Bernardino, which had four first-place votes and 54 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Sonoma State received 10 first-place votes in the North Division and had 65 points, while Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State each received a first-place nod. Cal State Stanislaus had 61 points and Chico State had 43 points.
Cal State L.A. is one of four CCAA schools to appear in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s preseason poll. Cal State L.A. is ranked 12th in the nation, while Cal State Dominguez Hills is sixth, Sonoma State is 22nd and Cal State San Bernardino is 25th. Cal State L.A. was the top-ranked team in the West Region in 2009 and hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA playoffs.
The Golden Eagles return only three starters and eight players from last year’s squad and expect to be fortified by one of their largest recruiting classes in recent years.
Head coach Chris Chamides, who earned his second conference Coach of the Year award in men’s soccer last season, welcomes back four defenders with starting experience. Leading the list is senior Simon Volk, who earned All-CCAA second-team honors in 2009. Anton Gunnarsson, who is a two-time All-CCAA selection and was the conference Freshman of the Year in 2007, also returns for his senior season. Junior Brennan Brodersen, who started 21 matches in 2009 and senior Tony Hernandez, who started 20 matches last season, are also back.
The Golden Eagles will open their 2010 season with a home game against Biola on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Biola. Cal State L.A. will open conference play on Friday, Sept. 10 at UC San Diego.
2010 CCAA Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll
Place School (First Place Votes) Points 2009 Record
North
1. Sonoma State (10) 65 14-5-4, 10-3-3 CCAA
2. Cal State Stanislaus (1) 61 11-6-2, 8-6-2
3. Chico State (1) 43 8-8-4, 5-7-4
4. Humboldt State 34 6-10-4, 5-8-3
5. Cal State Monterey Bay 20 6-11-3, 5-8-3
5. San Francisco State 20 6-10-4, 3-9-4
South
1. CS Dominguez Hills (6) 58 18-6-1, 11-4-1
2. CS San Bernardino (4) 54 15-6-1, 11-4-1
3. Cal State L.A. (1) 47 18-4-1, 13-2-1
4. Cal Poly Pomona (1) 42 10-8-1, 8-7-1
5. UC San Diego 28 7-9-4, 4-9-3
6. Cal State East Bay 14 1-19-0, 0-16-0
Conference Tournament Participants
1. Sonoma State (10); 2. Cal State Dominguez Hills (9); Cal State San Bernardino (8); T4. Cal State L.A. (6), Cal State Stanislaus (6); T6. Cal Poly Pomona (4), Chico State (4); 8. Humboldt State (1).
CCAA Tournament Champion (Votes)
Sonoma State (6)
Cal State Dominguez Hills (3)
Cal Poly Pomona (2)
Cal State Stanislaus (1)