July 28, 2004

Los Angeles, CA (July 28) - Thanks to three straight trips to the NCAA College Cup, the Loyola Marymount University men's soccer team has risen to the top of the West Coast Conference. The 2004 season has predicted more of the same as the Lions have been chosen to finish third by the 2004 Preseason Coaches' poll. The Lions, who earned one of the 16 seeds in the 2003 NCAA College Cup after a 12-7-1 campaign, return eight starters from last year's squad and earned two first place votes for a total of 28 points in this year's coaches' poll. Santa Clara was picked to finish first with 33 points and three first place votes. Portland was tabbed to finish second with 30 points and two first place votes. A pair of returning all-conference selections, including senior Matt Kovar and sophomore Junior Ybarra will lead LMU. Kovar will be the senior leader for the Lions in 2004 as he finished the 2003 campaign with 12 points, tops among returning players. Kovar finished the season with eight assists anchored the Lions on both offense and defense. In his first season as a Lion, Ybarra finished second on the squad with seven assists while playing in all but two games as a true freshman. Also earning WCC honorable mention honors from a year ago and returning this season are senior Shaun Kalnasy, sophomore Bobby Burling and senior Armando Melendez. Burling had the second highest point total of returning players with 11 (3 goals and 5 assists), while Melendez also had three goals and three assists for nine points. In net Kalnasy played in 17 games for the Lions, earning a 0.82 goals against average. The Lions will begin their season at the Creighton Tournament in Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 3 when they take on SW Missouri State. They will close the tournament against traditionally ranked Creighton on Sunday, Aug. 5.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.	Santa Clara - 33 (3)
2. 	Portland - 30 (2)
3. 	Loyola Marymount - 28 (2)
4. 	San Diego - 20
5. 	San Francisco - 14
6. 	Gonzaga - 11
	Saint Mary's - 11