The UCLA men’s soccer team may not be thinking about the past as it prepares for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But on Wednesday, the Pac-10 Champion Bruins received a pair of conference accolades for what was accomplished during the regular season.
Junior midfielder Michael Stephens, who led the conference in total points (23), earned the Pac-10 Player of the Year award. Stephens also earned three Pac-10 Player of the Week honors this season.
Fifth-year coach Jorge Salcedo, who guided the Bruins to their 26th consecutive postseason, also took home hardware as he was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
Along with Stephens, seniors Maxwell Griffin, Jason Leopoldo and Brad Rusin were selected to the All-Pac-10 First Team.
UCLA players were among the conference leaders in the nearly every offensive category this past season. Stephens and Leopoldo tied for the conference lead in assists with nine apiece. Griffin led the conference with 10 goals, four game-winning goals and a .500 goals per game average.
Rusin, who is the anchor of the Bruin defense, has earned All-Pac-10 honors in each of his four years in Westwood.
Junior goalkeeper Brian Perk, who led the conference with 71 saves, was named to the All-Pac-10 second team after being an honorable mention selection last season.
Juniors David Estrada and Danny Suits and freshman Andy Rose earned honorable mention selections on the All-Conference team.
The Bruins play host to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday night at Drake Stadium in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner advances to a second round matchup at UC Irvine on Tuesday night.
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