UCSB edged out UC Irvine as the favorite to finish first in the Big West Conference for men’s soccer.
In the preseason poll voted on by the eight conference coaches, the Gauchos received 53 points, two points ahead of second-placed UC Irvine and eight ahead of Cal State Northridge.
Gaucho coach Tim Vom Steeg appreciates the respect from the other coaches.
“On one hand, it’s a nice acknowledgement from the other coaches and there’s respect for where we are right now going into the season,” he said. “On the other hand, some coaches would prefer not having that bullseye on them. For us, it is our expectation to finish first and that’s been the standard upheld through several years.”
The first-place votes were spread around. UCSB received the most with three while Irvine got two and Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside, and Cal Poly had one apiece.
Three Gauchos were honored as preseason all-conference.
Senior wingback Noah Billingsley earned the distinction for the third time in his Gaucho career while junior winger Rodney Michael made the list for the second consecutive year. Junior centerback Hunter Ashworth was selected for the first time since transferring from University of San Francisco after the 2017 season.
“Having three players being selected out of 11 in an eight-team conference is an acknowledgement of their play up until now, but also recognition of the expectation going forward. We’re very pleased with their selection to the team,” said Vom Steeg.
New Zealand international Billingsley moved from the wing to outside back in his junior season to the tune of great success. His workrate influenced the team in both defense and attack, operating as a wingback on the right side in a 3-5-2 and at right back in the 4-4-2 system. His lone goal of the season came in overtime against Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 6, giving the Gauchos a crucial victory to bounce back from their conference-opening defeat at Sacramento State. Billingsley tallied an assist in UCSB’s 3-0 defeat of CSUN on Oct. 20. Since arriving at UCSB in 2016, the Kiwi has played in nearly every game, playing in 51 matches while starting 41 times. He also ranks atop the conference in career game-winning goals with three, tied with six other players.
Michael returns to the preseason all-conference team after finishing as UCSB’s top goalscorer in the 2018 season with seven goals. He also added three assists to this name, including two in the Gauchos’ key 2-2 draw at eventual Big West regular season victors UC Irvine. In just two seasons donning the blue and gold, the Freetown, Sierra Leone forward has climbed to second in the Big West’s active career leaders in goals (15), tied for fourth on the assists list (7), second in points (37), third in shots (90), and tied for first in game-winning goals (3).
Ashworth was a key piece of the Gauchos’ success in the backline last season. Along with senior defender Faouzi Taieb, the Laguna Beach native spearheaded a defense that never allowed more than two goals in any game and registered six clean sheets. He also was a major factor in UCSB’s set pieces last season, using his 6-5 frame to score two goals and register two assists.
2019 Big West Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara (3 first-place votes) – 53 points
2. UC Irvine (2) – 51
3. Cal State Northridge – 45
4. UC Davis – 39
5. Cal State Fullerton (1) – 36
6. UC Riverside (1) – 34
7. Cal Poly (1) – 17
8. Sacramento State – 13
2019 Big West Preseason All-Conference Team
Hunter Ashworth, UC Santa Barbara – Junior – Defender
Noah Billingsley, UC Santa Barbara – Senior – Defender
Rodney Michael, UC Santa Barbara – Junior – Forward
Giovanni Aguilar, CSUN – Junior – Midfielder
Daniel Aguirre, UC Riverside – Junior – Midfielder
Paul-Andre Guerin, Cal State Fullerton – Senior – Goalkeeper
Nabi Kibunguchy, UC Davis – Junior – Midfielder
Benji Kikanovic, Sacramento State – Sophomore – Forward
Jose Ortiz, UC Irvine – Senior – Midfielder
Alvaro Quezada, UC Irvine – Junior – Forward
Daniel Trejo, CSUN – Junior – Forward