Toros Men and Women Picked to Finish 2nd in CCAA Coaches Preseason Polls
8/19/2008 12:04:11 PM
Clockwise from top left: Kevin Gallaugher, Yvonne Vasquez, Mario Guerrero and Alyssa Congdon look to lead the Toros as the 2008 season begins next week.
Walnut Creek, CA -- One week after being the lone California Collegiate Athletic Association school with both men’s and women’s soccer teams included in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Top 25 preseason poll, both teams were picked to finish second in their respective preseason polls in a tally amongst CCAA Conference head coaches, it was announced by the CCAA office this morning.
The two-time defending champion men’s squad, ranked No. 11 by the NSCAA and again chosen to capture the CCAA’s South Division, received two votes to claim the tournament championship and totaled 49 votes overall. Sixth-ranked Sonoma State, which fell to the Toros in last year’s classic CCAA Conference Title but bested CSUDH in the Far West Region Title game one week later, received nine votes for the conference crown and 60 votes in all.
Expected to join Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills in the four-team CCAA Tournament are Cal State L.A., which received eight votes, and UC San Diego and Chico State, who tied for the fourth and final spot with four votes apiece.
The Toro women, ranked 13th by the NSCAA in last week’s national preseason poll, received three first place votes and 42 total points, but were tabbed to finish second behind defending CCAA Champion and 24th-ranked Chico State, which garnered four first place votes and 58 total points. The Wildcats also were chosen to win the CCAA’s North Division, while UC San Diego, recipients of two first place votes and 45 points, was picked to win the South.
Predicted to join Chico State, CSUDH and UCSD is Sonoma State, which received the final two first place votes.
Both Toro teams kick off the 2008 season on Thursday, August 28, as former CCAA school Grand Canyon pays Carson a visit. First kick for the women is set for 4:30 pm, with the men following at 7:00 pm in Toro Stadium at the Track & Field Facility at The Home Depot Center.