SAN MATEO, Calif. — Gonzaga's
Demitrius Kigeya was named preseason All-West Coast Conference Wednesday the league office announced. This marks the fourth time the senior has been named to the preseason All-WCC team, which is a program record.
Kigeya had a team-high 13 points last season. In 16 games, he scored five goals and was credited with three assists. He took a team-best 26 shots, with 15 on goal. The senior was tabbed second team All-Conference following the season, and was Second Team All-WCC in 2019 and 2020. During his first year at GU he was also named to the WCC All-Freshman team.
The preseason poll and the All-WCC team were selected by a vote of the conference's eight head coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams and student-athletes.
The Pilots, who are seeking their first conference crown since 2016, garnered 43 points. Portland advanced to the NCAA Tournament last fall, defeating Seattle University in the opening round before losing at Washington.
Defending WCC champion Santa Clara - ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason national poll - received 42 points in the preseason poll. The Broncos advanced to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, beating Akron in the first round before falling to Kentucky.
Pacific picked up one first-place vote and a total of 38 points, just four shy of the Broncos for second. The Tigers are looking to pick up where they left off after finishing in second place in the WCC in 2021.
LMU, the 2020-21 Spring WCC champions, picked up one first-place vote and a total of 34 points. The Lions tied for third in the conference last fall, and LMU earned a national ranking of No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll during last season.
The 2022 All-WCC Preseason Men's Soccer Team includes a number of individuals who secured all-conference selections last season. LMU's Noel Caliskan garners another spot on the preseason team after earning WCC Offensive and Midfielder Player of the Year accolades last fall. Three additional First Team All-WCC selections from last season are on the 2022 preseason all-conference team - Portland's Jake Arteaga, and Ryan Her and Yazid Omri of Pacific.
In addition to the names listed above, Gonzaga's Kigeya marks five of the 11 preseason selections as repeat honorees. The top four teams in the preseason poll each garnered two players on the preseason team.
Gonzaga has a pair of home exhibitions versus Seattle University and Carroll College on Aug. 14 and Aug. 21, respectively. The Zags open up the regular season at Denver on Aug. 25.
2022 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
Portland |
3 |
43 |
| 2. |
No. 22 Santa Clara |
3 |
42 |
| 3. |
Pacific |
1 |
38 |
| 4. |
LMU |
1 |
34 |
| 5. |
Saint Mary's |
|
28 |
| 6. |
San Francisco |
|
14 |
| 7. |
San Diego |
|
13 |
| 8. |
Gonzaga |
|
12 |
| 2022 All-WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Team |
| Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Jake Arteaga |
Portland |
Gr.* |
M |
| Noel Caliskan |
LMU |
Sr.* |
M |
| Ryan Her |
Pacific |
Gr.* |
M |
| Demitrius Kigeya |
Gonzaga |
Sr.* |
F |
| Riley Lynch |
Saint Mary's |
So. |
F |
| Yazid Omri |
Pacific |
Sr.* |
M |
| Damani Osei |
Santa Clara |
Jr. |
D |
| Dylan Shockey |
LMU |
Sr. |
D |
| Louis Sterobo |
Saint Mary's |
Jr. |
D |
| George Tasouris |
Portland |
Gr. |
GK |
| Oladayo Thomas |
Santa Clara |
Sr. |
F |
