The 2002 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team represented the University of California, Santa Barbara during the 2002 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos were led by head coach Tim Vom Steeg, in his fourth season. For the first time in program history, the team became nationally ranked during the season and made the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round.
Background The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team won the 2001 Big West Conference championship, however the conference did not have an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament as the conference had just reinstated the men's soccer competition for the first time since 1991. The team did not receive an at-large selection by the NCAA which ended their 2001 season.
Season summary The 2002 UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team was tabbed as preseason favorites to win the league in the annual Big West Conference coaches poll, besting the UC Irvine Anteaters by one point. With no exhibition games to start the season, the Gauchos won the Michigan State Classic. After their next game against St. Mary's, the Gauchos were nationally ranked by College Soccer News for their first time in program history. Their unbeaten streak continued through the St. Louis Nike Classic, and Bryant & Sons Cup. Shortly after, the NSCAA/adidas, Soccer America, and Soccer Times all joined College Soccer News in adding UC Santa Barbara to their top-25 teams. Their first loss wouldn't come until October 6 against #7 Loyola Marymount. The Gauchos went unbeaten in Big West Conference play, including both games of the Blue–Green Rivalry against the Cal Poly Mustangs. The only other regular season loss the Gauchos experienced was to #1 Indiana Hoosiers.
The Gauchos claimed a share of the Big West Conference championship on November 9 after a 3–0 victory against the UC Riverside Highlanders. The Gauchos defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans the following game 2–0 to claim the title outright. UC Santa Barbara earned an at-large bid to the 2002 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament and hosted the San Diego Toreros at Harder Stadium. The Gauchos won the match 2–0, but fell in the following round to the California Golden Bears.
Player movement Offseason departures Sources:
Name No. Pos. Nation Year Reason for departure Bradford Duttera 00 GK Sophomore — Jeremy Pruzin 0 GK Sophomore — Erik Stolhandske 01 GK Sophomore — Brian Reardon 2 FW Senior Graduated Aaron McAthy 6 MF Junior — Anthony Dimech 7 MF Senior Graduated Joe Hubay–Dies 11 FW Senior Graduated Reuben Bates 12 DF Senior Graduated Steven Sosa 13 MF Senior Graduated Galen Donaldson 15 DF Senior Graduated Jaime Ambriz 21 FW Senior Graduated
Recruiting The signing class was formally announced on May 16, 2002. A further signing was announced on July 9, 2002.
Name Pos. Nation Previous TDS Rating Alan Keely DF Shelbourne F.C.St Joseph's C.B.S. N/A Jeff Murphy MF Servite High School N/A Kyle Reynish GK Hart High SchoolSoCal United N/A
Transfers Outgoing Name No. Pos. Nation Year New school Kevin Maffris 14 DF Sophomore California Alex Tablin-Wolf 22 DF Freshman Santa Clara Sean Edwards 24 MF Junior Westmont
Incoming Name Pos. Nation Year Previous David McGill MF Junior Charlotte 49ers Memo Arzate MF Junior Compton College Jacob Kovacs MF Junior De Anza College
Personnel Player roster Final 2002 roster.
Coaches Position Staff Head coach Tim Vom Steeg Assistant coach Leo Chappel Goalkeeper coach Ryan Sparre
Schedule Source:
!colspan=6 style=""| Regular Season
!colspan=6 style=""| NCAA Tournament
Awards and honors Recipient Award Date Ref. Rob Friend NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-American December 12, 2002 Rob Friend NSCAA/adidas First Team All-Far West Region December 12, 2002 Memo Arzate NSCAA/adidas Second Team All-Far West Region December 12, 2002 Drew McAthy NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-Far West Region December 12, 2002 Rob Friend Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year November 20, 2002 Alan Keely Big West Conference Freshman of the Year November 20, 2002 Rob Friend Big West Conference First Team November 20, 2002 Alan Keely Big West Conference First Team November 20, 2002 Dan Young Big West Conference First Team November 20, 2002 Memo Arzate Big West Conference First Team November 20, 2002 Drew McAthy Big West Conference First Team November 20, 2002 David McGill Big West Conference Second Team November 20, 2002 Tony Lochhead Big West Conference Second Team November 20, 2002 Danny Kennedy Big West Conference Second Team November 20, 2002 Matt Kubota Big West Conference Honorable Mention November 20, 2002
Rankings
References