UCSB Gauchos
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #1 Big West
UCSB Team Page
Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg will be leading the Gauchos for his fourteenth season at the helm. Coach Vom Steeg has associated UCSB with winning and has titles to prove it including six Big West regular season titles, ten NCAA tournament appearances, and one national championship in 2006. Vom Steeg isn’t the only talent that UCSB has offered. With multiple players in major league soccer, 18 All-Americans, and countless All-Team awards, the players contributed to the success of the program as well. The 2012 season will not be any different. With award winning players and coaches, the Gauchos are sure to be a favorite from the preseason to the post season.
2011 Record: 15-7-1, 6-4-0
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Tim Vom Steeg
Strengths:
Coach Vom Steeg has a group of talented players returning and also those new to the program and he will be looking forward to working with all of them prior to the season opener. The offense welcomes back players like Dom Sarle, Josue Madueno and Machael David while the defense has Peter McGlynn, Peter Schmetz, and keeper Andre Grandt. Grandt started every match and played every minute of the season last year tallying 70 saves in the 23 games played. The offense will also be getting help from transfer Dion Acoff who helped Creighton to the College Cup in the 2011 season before making his way to UCSB.
Weaknesses:
The Gaucho offense took a severe hit to its lineup after the 2011 season losing its top three scorers, including Luis Silva who led the team with 17 goals last year. The defense suffered as well but was able to bring back defender Peter McGlynn. McGlynn was classified as a medical red shirt last season after he suffered an injury that put him out for the remainder of the year. Midfielder Machael David also suffered from injuries during the 2011 season but hopes to come back this season healthier and stronger. Coach Vom Steeg will be keeping an eye on both of these players to make sure they stay healthy along with the rest of the squad. A team like this cannot afford to lose any players during the season to injury.
Final Projection:
The final projection has already been determined by the coaches for the Big West conference and all 18 picked UCSB to win the North Division of the conference. Machael David, Peter McGlynn and Dion Acoff were all named to the 11-player Preseason All-Conference Team earlier this month. If the coaches are saying it, then why not? The Gauchos will take the conference title. As long as the team can stay healthy then they have a shot for the College Cup with the talent they have stacked up on the pitch.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Dom Sarle, Junior, F, 4; Josue Madueno, Senior, MF, 4
Assists: Dom Sarle, Junior, F, 10
Shots: Dom Sarle, Junior, F, 30
Saves: Andre Grandt, Senior, GK, 70
