SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, Portland claimed the top spot in the annual Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll as announced on Tuesday. The Pilots garnered six first-place votes, while second place and four-time defending conference champion San Diego secured two first-place votes and new full-time member Denver came in third with the last remaining first-place vote. The Toreros are ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and the Pioneers are receiving votes in that poll, as well.
The preseason poll and the preseason team were selected solely by a vote of the conference’s nine head coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams and student-athletes.
Portland secured 62 points with San Diego in second with 55. Denver was right behind the Toreros in third with 53 points, and San Francisco came in fourth with 41 points.
On the preseason team, the Pilots boasted four honorees while USD garnered three, and Denver and USF each boasted two.
The four Portland student-athletes honored were David Ajagbe, Efetobo Aror, Joe Highfield and Diego Rosas.
Aror, Highfield and San Francisco's David Raphael were also on last season's preseason squad.
Two of last season's major all-conference award winners were recognized on the preseason team - Rosas (Midfielder of the Year) and Lucca Adams from San Diego (Goalkeeper of the Year). Rosas and Adams were both named to last season's all-conference first team, as well, along with Highfield, Raphael, Ajagbe, Brayden Beason (San Francisco) and Iain Wagner (San Diego).
The men's soccer campaign kicks off next Thursday. Catch all the West Coast Conference home games on
ESPN+.
2026 West Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll (rankings based off United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll)
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
No. 6 Portland |
6 |
62 |
| 2. |
No. 18 San Diego |
2 |
55 |
| 3. |
RV Denver |
1 |
53 |
| 4. |
San Francisco |
|
41 |
| 4. |
Seattle U |
|
35 |
| 6. |
LMU |
|
30 |
| 7. |
Santa Clara |
|
23 |
| 8. |
Saint Mary's |
|
13 |
| 9. |
Pacific |
|
12 |
| 2026 West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Team |
| Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Lucca Adams |
San Diego |
So. |
GK |
| David Ajagbe |
Portland |
Jr. |
F |
| Efetobo Aror |
Portland |
Sr. |
M |
| Brayden Beason |
San Francisco |
Jr. |
F |
| Joe Highfield |
Portland |
Sr. |
F |
| Noah James |
San Diego |
Sr. |
M |
| Kyle McGowan |
Denver |
Sr. |
F |
| David Raphael |
San Francisco |
Jr. |
F |
| Diego Rosas |
Portland |
Sr. |
F |
| Iain Wagner |
San Diego |
Jr. |
M |
| Bryce Willoughby |
Denver |
Sr. |
F |