San José, Calif. - The Western Athletic Conference released its 2020-21 preseason all-conference team on Wednesday and San José State seniors Max Allen and Rudi Castro were both honored by the conference's head coaches.
The Spartans are one of just two teams in the league with multiple honorees on the all-conference team.
"We are excited and pleased that a spring WAC season offers us the opportunity to compete for a championship," says head coach Simon Tobin. "We have faced a few extra obstacles but are excited to begin play at Dixie State on Feb. 20."
Allen - a preseason All-WAC selection for a second straight season - also earned first team All-WAC honors upon the completion of the 2019 season. In addition, the midfielder was voted as a third team United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection.
Allen &
— San José State Men's Soccer (@SanJoseStateMS) August 17, 2020
Bermudez &
Brenes &
Buenfil &
Castro &
Gomez-Zavala &
Hernandez &
Lemus &
Lopez &
Miranda &
Reyes-Zavalza &
Sanchez &
Saydee.
When we return to the pitch, we'll do so with one of the nation's most experienced rosters. pic.twitter.com/lXweomJhFD
The Liverpool, England native has started every match he has appeared in throughout his first three seasons with SJSU.
Rounding out San José State's honorees is Castro. The San José product is coming off a dominant first year in the program, a campaign in which he tallied a team-high 20 points and nine goals.
Counting down our Top 5 Plays of the Year!
— San José State Men's Soccer (@SanJoseStateMS) June 22, 2020
At No. 2?, Rudi Castro bends one over the wall and inside the post against Utah Valley.#SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/NtB0TIz0sb
The forward finished the season ranked second in the WAC for goals scored in conference play en route to second team All-WAC honors.
Also announced Wednesday was this year's preseason coaches poll. The Spartans received a total of 60 points on the 11 ballots that were submitted, finishing sixth in the tally of the conference's coaches.
The program has advanced to the conference tournament in each of the last three seasons, advancing to the WAC title match in two of those trips.
SJSU is set to open the 2020-21 season on Feb. 20 at Dixie State. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. (PT) and the match can be seen on the WAC Digital Network.
Preseason All-Conference Team
Max Allen, MF, San José State
Rudi Castro, F, San José State
James Morris, F, Seattle U
William Akio, F, UTRGV
Noe Meza, MF, Seattle U
Tristan Trager, MF, Air Force
Alex Acton-Petronotis, D, Seattle U
Billy Jones, D, UNLV
Esai Easley, D, Grand Canyon
Mark Brown, D, Utah Valley
Akili Kasim, GK, Seattle U
2020-21 Western Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Seattle U (9) - 98 points
2. Utah Valley (1) - 81
3. Air Force - 79
4. Grand Canyon (1) - 65
5. UNLV - 63
6. San José State - 60
7. California Baptist - 54
8. UTRGV - 43
9. Houston Baptist - 28
10. Incarnate Word - 23
11. Dixie State - 11