Aug. 14, 2009

LAS VEGAS - UNLV was picked to finish fourth in the 2009 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation preseason men's soccer coaches' poll, which was released on Friday.

The Rebels received 32 votes to place fourth, just two votes behind San Jose State (34 points). Denver is favored to defend its 2008 title, as the Pioneers were picked first with 47 points, including five first-place votes, while New Mexico was three votes behind with 44 (three first-place votes).

Following UNLV was Sacramento State in fifth (24), Seattle sixth (18), Air Force seventh (16), and Cal State Bakersfield rounded out the field in eighth with nine points. Seattle and Cal State Bakersfield are in their first year of play as members of the MPSF.

The Rebels, under fourth-year head coach Mario Sanchez, return just five starters from last year's team, which saw two players move onto the MLS this summer. The top returning scorer is junior midfielder Stephen Sifuentes, who scored three goals in league play last year, while midfielder Nicholas DeLeon (three assists) was a second-team all-conference selection as a freshman last year.

UNLV opens its season on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in a 7 pm contest.

2009 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
Place    Team (1st place votes)  Votes1.  Denver (5)      472.  New Mexico (3)      443.  San Jose State      344.   UNLV            325.  Sacramento State        246.  Seattle         187   Air Force           168.  Cal State Bakersfield   9