LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV men's soccer was picked fifth in the preseason coaches poll while senior defender Billy Jones was selected to the 11-player WAC Preseason Team, the league office announced Wednesday.

Jones, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, picked up WAC Honorable Mention honors in his first year with the Rebels after spending his first two seasons at New Mexico. Jones was recognized despite only appearing in eight league games, as he missed a month of the season while starting on the backline for the the New Zealand Olympic Team that won its Zone Tournament in September, 2020, to clinch a spot in the Tokyo Games. 

UNLV returns eight of 11 starters from last year's squad, and also brings in a strong recruiting class for the 2020-21 season. The Rebels received 63 points to place fifth overall, just two points behind Grand Canyon in fourth with 65. Favored to win the 2021 WAC title is Seattle with 98 points, while Utah Valley was selected second with 81 points and Air Force was third with 79. The top six teams in the WAC will advance to the league's postseason tournament, hosted this year by UNLV at Johann Memorial Field from April 13-17.
 


2020-21 WAC Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll

Place Team (1st place votes) Votes
1. Seattle U (9) 98

2. Utah Valley (1) 81
3. Air Force 79
4. Grand Canyon (1) 65
5. UNLV 63
6. San José State 60
7. California Baptist 54
8. UT Rio Grande Valley 43
9. Houston Baptist 28
10. Incarnate Word 23
11. Dixie State 11

2020-21 Preseason All-WAC Team
James Morris, So.,F, Seattle 
Rudi Castro, Sr., F, San José State
William Akio, Sr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Noe Meza, R-Sr., MF, Seattle 
Max Allen, Sr., MF, San José State
Tristan Trager, Jr., MF, Air Force
Alex Acton-Petronotis, Sr., D, Seattle 
Billy Jones, Sr., D, UNLV
Esai Easley, Jr., D, Grand Canyon
Mark Brown, R-Sr., D, Utah Valley
Akili Kasim, R-Jr., GK, Seattle 

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Noe Meza, Seattle 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Acton-Petronotis, Seattle