Now we’re talkin’: Bruins ranked no. 1

Uclablogpixestrada_david300 UCLA’s men’s soccer team, which reached the national final before losing to UC Santa Barbara amid snowy conditions in St. Louis last season, has been ranked no. 1 in the nation in a pre-season poll by College Soccer News.

CSN wrote of the top-ranked Bruins:

"Make no mistake about it, this team is loaded with talent and top-notch competitive experience. Begin with the fact that nine starters are back from the 2006 team that advanced to the national championship match. Sophomore forward David Estrada (12g, 4a, pictured right), junior midfielders Sal Zizzo (7g, 9a) and Tony Beltran (0g, 1a), sophomore midfielder Kyle Nakazawa (4g, 8a), and senior defender Mike Zaher are among the prime timers who return. Consider the fact that defender Brandon Owens and forward Maxwell Griffin (5g, 1a) return after sustaining injuries in 2006. Look at the high level of competitive play that many of the Bruins have engaged in since the end of the 2006 season. Throw in the fact that players often improve the most between their freshman and sophomore seasons which bodes well for the young Bruins. Add in the fact that UCLA will feature one of the countries premier goalkeepers in sophomore Brian Perk and it is clear that Jorge Salcedo’s UCLA Bruins have what it takes to win it all in 2007."

Zizzo has left UCLA to sign with Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga, but all the others will return. Everyone will find out how good the Bruins actually are right away as UCLA opens with three ranked opponents on the road: no. 11 Notre Dame on August 31 at Bloomington, Indiana; at no. 8 Indiana on September 2, and at no. 21 Creighton on September 8.

Behind the Bruins in the pre-season poll are Duke, UC Santa Barbara, Wake Forest and Santa Clara in the top five, then Virginia, SMU, Indiana, Maryland and New Mexico.

UCLA has won four NCAA soccer titles, the last in 2002.