SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced the 2024 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll and the Portland Pilots were picked to finish second, one point behind Oregon State. The Pilots had three players named to the 11-player WCC Preseason Team: Nick Fernandez, Buba Fofanah and Sebastian Nava.

The Pilots garnered 55 total points and two first place votes. Oregon State had four first-place votes and 56 total points. San Diego (48) also had a pair of top votes and was third, while LMU picked up a single first-place vote and was fourth overall (47).

Fernandez was recently named a midfielder to watch by the United Soccer Coaches and is coming off a very productive season. He was named the WCC Midfielder of the Year, an All-WCC First Team selection, a first team United Soccer Coaches All-West Region selection and a third team All-America for the United Soccer Coaches. He was the first Pilot to earn WCC Midfielder of the Year honors in program history and was the only Pilot this past season to make the WCC All-Academic First Team. In 15 matches, Fernandez tallied two goals and seven assists. He was fourth in the WCC in assists on the year and his goal against San Francisco proved to be the game-winner for the Pilots, helping them earn a bye in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Fofanah chose to return to The Bluff despite being a third-round draft pick in the 2024 Major League Soccer Super Draft by the Seattle Sounders. He returns to Portland after a career year in 2023 that saw him score nine goals with six assists to make the All-WCC Second Team. He was second in the WCC last year in goals scored and total points (24) and fifth in total assists. He was the only Pilot to post at least five goals and five assists on the year.

Nava has earned All-WCC recognition in each of his first three seasons on The Bluff. He was All-Freshman Team and honorable mention in 2021, honorable mention as well in 2022 and an All-WCC Second Team selection last year. Nava was one of just five Pilots to appear and start in all 17 matches. He posted 14 points with three goals and eight assists, the third most points on the team. He was second on the team in assists, third best in the WCC and 26th nationally.

The Pilots are ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt guided the team to a historic 2023 season that saw them rank as high as third in the nation as they went 12-5 overall to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row and the fifth time in seven seasons. They earned a first-round bye for the first time since 1988 after earning the 11-seed in the tournament and have made it to the second round each of the last three years, being one of just 11 teams in the nation to do so.
 
Portland has been one of the most exciting programs in the country, leading the nation in combined goals per game over the last two years (2.52). They set a program record with a home unbeaten streak that extended to 28 games (26-0-2) dating back to the 2021 season.

Portland will host the Seattle U Redhawks in a Friday exhibition game at Merlo Field before opening the regular season on Friday, Aug. 23 against the Washington Huskies. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

Tickets for the 2024 season are live now, with season tickets, flex packs and single-game tickets available at PortlandPilots.com/SOCCERTIX2024.

2024 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
?1. Oregon State - 56 points (4)
?2. Portland - 55 points (2)
?3. San Diego - 48 points (2)
?4. LMU - 47 points (1)
?5. San Francisco - 35 points
?6. Santa Clara - 33 points
?7. Saint Mary's - 25 points
?8. Pacific - 16 points
?9. Gonzaga - 9 points

2024 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Team
Fran Cortijo, Oregon State
Okeefe Cunningham, LMU
Trevor Dillon, San Diego
Arnau Farnos, Oregon State
Nick Fernandez, Portland
Buba Fofanah, Portland
Sebastian Nava, Portland
Reid Roberts, San Francisco
Gabriel Bracken Serra, San Francisco
Ellis Spikner, Oregon State
Dante Williams, Oregon State 
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