The Sonoma State University men's and women's soccer teams are both predicted to finish second in their respective California Collegiate Athletic Association standings in 2017, according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches announced Aug. 15. The women soccer team is nationally-ranked at No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's Top 25 Preseason Poll, also finished second in the CCAA last season with a 10-1-1 mark in conference play, qualifying for the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament for the fourth time in five years. The men's team is coming off of a year in which they went 10-5-5 overall, finished second in the CCAA at 8-2-2 and qualified for the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship Tournament for the first time since 2010.
The preseason poll ranked both Sonoma State teams second behind the last year's reigning CCAA champion, UC San Diego.
The women's soccer team return six starters from a year ago, including four All-CCAA selections -- junior Miriam Bloom, and seniors Sara Van Wagoner, Cecilia Sifuentes and Katie Mohr. In 2016, Sonoma State went 12-3-3, marking the fifth straight season with double-digit victories. In fact, head coach Emiria Salzmann Dunn has gone 77-26-15 in six seasons with the Seawolves, including a 56-15-10 record against conference foes.
The men's soccer team return seven starters from a year ago, including 2016 NSCAA and D2CCA All-West Region selection Eric Alvarado, a senior who will once again anchor a defense that finished the 2016 campaign ranked 14th in the nation in goals against average (0.80).
Sonoma State Women's Soccer Team will kick off their 2017 regular season schedule in Arcata, California at the Lumberjack Classic against Fresno Pacific on Aug. 31 at 1:00 p.m. The Seawolves home opener is set for Sept. 7 against Dixie State at 5:00 p.m.
Sonoma State's Men Soccer Team will kick off their 2017 regular season schedule in the state of Washington, opening up with an Aug. 31st matchup at Western Washington in Bellingham with a 7:00 p.m. start time. The Seawolves' home opener will be Sept. 7th at 2:00 p.m. against California Baptist.