Aug. 25, 2014
Denver, Colo. - Sophomore striker Rory Knibbs and senior central defender Andrew Kelly have received Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors by a vote of the league's 10 head coaches. The Spartans, whose 2013 season ended in the WAC Tournament's championship match, have been selected to finish fourth in 2014 by the same panel.
Knibbs, out of London, England, earned second-team All-WAC honors last year as well as selection to the conference's all-tournament team. He led the side in goals, points, shots, shots on goals and game winners. Among WAC players he was second in game winners, third in goal and points and 10th in shots.
Kelly, from Darlington, England, had 16 starts in 17 appearances. In his 1,507 minutes of action, he produced six shots and put three on frame.
Seattle U was selected first in the poll, receiving seven first place votes and 76 total points. UNLV finished second in the poll with one first place vote and 68 points. CSU Bakersfield is third with 58 points followed by San José State with 50 points. Air Force was picked fifth with 45 points followed by UMKC (39). Houston Baptist and Incarnate Word were tied for seventh (33), Grand Canyon was eight (31) and Utah Valley was 10th with 17 points.
Houston Baptist sophomore forward Tobenna Uzo garnered Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, while UNLV senior keeper Ryan Harding was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Spartans open the 2014 regular season this weekend in the Hotels at Grand Praire Tournament in Peoria, Ill.
San José State opens the tournament at 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, August 29 against host Bradley. The team wraps up tournament play versus Western Illinois at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 31. The home opener is scheduled for September 2 at 4:00 p.m. on Spartan Soccer Field against Massachusetts.
2014 WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team-Points
1. Seattle U (7)-76
2. UNLV (1)-68
3. Bakersfield -58
4. San José State-50
5. Air Force-45
6. UMKC -39
7. Houston Baptist-33
Incarnate Word-33
9. Grand Canyon (1)-31
10. Utah Valley-17
2014 Preseason All-WAC Team
Player, Yr., Pos., School
Tobenna Uzo, So., F, Houston Baptist
Jordan Rideout, Sr., F, UMKC
Sal Bernal, Sr., F, UNLV
Rory Knibbs, So., F, San José State
Christian Duarte, Jr., MF. Bakersfield
Joe Masumiya, Sr., MF, Bakersfield
Tayna Chiaparro, Sr., MF, UMKC
Rodrigo Fuentes, Jr., MF, UNLV
Bradley Kamdem, Jr., D, UNLV
Andrew Kelly, Sr., D, San José State
Kyle Bjornethun, So., D, Seattle U
Ryan Harding, Sr., GK, UNLV
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Tobenna Uzo, So., F, Houston Baptist
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Harding, Sr., GK, UNLV