LOS ANGELES - Following a season in which the Loyola Marymount University Lions men's soccer team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, the West Coast Conference coaches tabbed the Lions to finish first for the 2020-21 season.
 
In addition to the preseason poll, which is voted on by all eight of the conference head coaches, the WCC also released the 2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Men's Soccer Team. LMU placed a conference high three players on the team, sophomore midfielder Noel Caliskan, senior defender Gerardo Lopez, and senior midfielder Bastien Oberli.
 
Caliskan, the WCC Freshman of the Year, All-WCC Freshman Team, and All-WCC Second Team member in 2019, appeared in 20 games making 19 starts. He saw 1,712 minutes of action and was responsible for two assists and two points while netting 14 shots with nine shots on goal. Additionally, he was selected to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-West Region Third Team and tabbed by Top Drawer Soccer's First Team TDS Freshman Best XI.
 
Lopez, recently named to the MAC Hermann Watch List for the 2020-21 season was also tabbed a member of the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-West Region First Team in 2019. Last season for the Lions, he appeared and started in 19 games, led the team in minutes with 1,728 and posted one goal and assist.
 
Oberli, an All-WCC First Team and United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-West Region Second Team member in 2019 was second on the team in goals and points and third in shots on goal. He posted four goals, two assists, 10 points, 24 shots, and 13 shots on goal.
 
The Lions garnered three first-place votes and 45 total points while Saint Mary's – the 2019 WCC champion – collected four first-place votes and 42 points. Portland came in third in the preseason poll with 35 points while San Diego picked up the remaining first-place vote and totaled 34 points. The second half of the poll included Gonzaga (20), Pacific (19), Santa Clara (19) and San Francisco (10).
  

2020-21 WCC Spring Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Votes)	Points
LMU (3)	45
Saint Mary's (4)	42
Portland	35
San Diego (1)	34
Gonzaga	20
Pacific	19
Santa Clara	19
San Francisco	10

 

2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Spring Men's Soccer Team
Name	Institution	Yr.	Pos
Noel Caliskan	LMU	So.	Defensive Midfielder
Emil Christensen	Santa Clara	Jr.	Defender
Aaron Frey	San Diego	Sr.	Defender
Luke Hendel	Portland	Sr.	Midfielder
Ryan Her	Pacific	Jr.	Midfielder
Demitrius Kigeya	Gonzaga	Jr.	Forward
Gerardo Lopez	LMU	Sr.	Defender
Bastien Oberli	LMU	Gr.	Midfielder
Delentz Pierre	Portland	So.	Defender
Javier Ruiz Duran	Santa Clara	Sr.	Forward
Sebastian Schacht	Saint Mary's	Jr.	Midfielder

 
 
The Lions begin the 2020-21 season on Saturday, January 30 when LMU hosts Westmont College for a scrimmage on Sullivan Field at 6:00 p.m. No live stats or streaming will be available for the scrimmage.