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WAC picks GCU 2nd, Joash for Offensive POY
8/17/2022 9:51:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Prado also selected to Preseason All-WAC team for Lopes
The Grand Canyon men's soccer team was selected second in the WAC preseason coaches poll with senior forward Shaun Joash named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday.
Two Lopes garnered Preseason All-WAC honors, including Joash and senior defender Rodolfo Prado. As a team, GCU earned 68 points and was one of two teams with first-place votes, getting two to only trail Seattle U's eight.
"We are very excited and humbled to be looked at as one of the top contenders for the WAC title," Lopes head coach Mike Kraus said. "It's a testament to the previous staff and players that have elevated the program to what it is today and I hope myself and my staff can continue to take the team to new heights."
The Lopes enter the season after a 15-4-1 showing in 2021 that included a second consecutive WAC regular-season title and an NCAA tournament berth for the third time in four years. GCU looks to build off momentum from last season that included an 8-1 home record and a 9-2 conference mark.
Kraus, who was hired in May and begins his first season as head coach for the Lopes, brought in 19 new players with 12 returning from last year's NCAA tournament squad.
Joash returns for his senior season, a year after being named All-WAC first team and All-Far West Region second team. The Hampton Hill, England, native scored a team-high nine goals and added four assists with 27 shots on goal and a .509 shot-on-goal percentage.
Prado, a Bakersfield, California, native, was a catalyst for the back line and led the squad with 1,707 minutes played. He tallied seven shots and started in every contest last season.
"Shaun and Rodolfo are leaders within our locker room and have worked incredibly hard over their careers to be in a position to be recognized as leaders in the conference," said Kraus. "We are incredibly proud of what they've done to gain this recognition but more excited to see what lies ahead of them."
GCU opens competition Friday with a home exhibition against Arizona Christian at 7 p.m. The regular season begins six days later, when ACC power Virginia Tech visits GCU Stadium for a 7 p.m. match.
Two Lopes garnered Preseason All-WAC honors, including Joash and senior defender Rodolfo Prado. As a team, GCU earned 68 points and was one of two teams with first-place votes, getting two to only trail Seattle U's eight.
"We are very excited and humbled to be looked at as one of the top contenders for the WAC title," Lopes head coach Mike Kraus said. "It's a testament to the previous staff and players that have elevated the program to what it is today and I hope myself and my staff can continue to take the team to new heights."
The Lopes enter the season after a 15-4-1 showing in 2021 that included a second consecutive WAC regular-season title and an NCAA tournament berth for the third time in four years. GCU looks to build off momentum from last season that included an 8-1 home record and a 9-2 conference mark.
Kraus, who was hired in May and begins his first season as head coach for the Lopes, brought in 19 new players with 12 returning from last year's NCAA tournament squad.
Joash returns for his senior season, a year after being named All-WAC first team and All-Far West Region second team. The Hampton Hill, England, native scored a team-high nine goals and added four assists with 27 shots on goal and a .509 shot-on-goal percentage.
Prado, a Bakersfield, California, native, was a catalyst for the back line and led the squad with 1,707 minutes played. He tallied seven shots and started in every contest last season.
"Shaun and Rodolfo are leaders within our locker room and have worked incredibly hard over their careers to be in a position to be recognized as leaders in the conference," said Kraus. "We are incredibly proud of what they've done to gain this recognition but more excited to see what lies ahead of them."
GCU opens competition Friday with a home exhibition against Arizona Christian at 7 p.m. The regular season begins six days later, when ACC power Virginia Tech visits GCU Stadium for a 7 p.m. match.
Conference awards |
|
| Award | Player, School |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Shaun Joash, GCU |
| Defensive Player of the Year | London Aghedo, Air Force |
Preseason All-WAC |
|
| Position | Player, Year, School |
| Forward | Bryan Iliohan, senior, California Baptist |
| Forward | Shaun Joash, senior, GCU |
| Forward | Declan McGlynn, senior, Seattle U |
| Midfielder | Diego Castillo, sophomore, Utah Valley |
| Midfielder | Brian Gonzalez, graduate, California Baptist |
| Midfielder | Alejandro Silva, sophomore, Utah Valley |
| Defender | London Aghedo, junior, Air Force |
| Defender | Thomas Beecham, junior, California Baptist |
| Defender | Rodolfo Prado, senior, GCU |
| Defender | Kasper Poulsgaard, senior, San Jose State |
| Goalkeeper | Akili Kasim, graduate, Seattle U |
Preseason coaches poll |
|||
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Points | |
| 1 |
 |
Seattle U (8) | 80 |
| 2 |
 |
Grand Canyon (2) | 68 |
| 3 |
 |
California Baptist | 61 |
| 4 |
 |
Utah Valley | 58 |
| 5 |
 |
Air Force | 50 |
| 6 |
 |
San Jose State | 43 |
| 7 |
 |
UNLV | 32 |
 |
UTRGV | 32 | |
| 9 |
 |
Utah Tech | 14 |
| 10 |
 |
Houston Baptist | 12 |
Players Mentioned
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