SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2023) — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team is one day away from kicking off their 2023 regular season, and expectations are high as always. The Gauchos were picked to finish atop The Big West this season, as they return a wealth of talent from last year's squad that reached the conference title game. Three returning Gauchos were named to The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team, and UC Santa Barbara has added ten new players through the transfer portal and their freshman class.
 
After hosting two preseason fixtures at Harder Stadium, the Gauchos will open their regular season at home on Friday, August 25 against Oral Roberts before wrapping up the homestand on Monday, August 28 against Pacific. Both matches will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com.
 
FROM COACH TIM VOM STEEG
"We're excited about the season; we're excited about the group of players and we're especially excited that the additions of the new players were in those positions that we needed key help," Vom Steeg said. "We return a lot of the key players in our defense and our offense, and we added players that we felt will make it a complete team."
 
GOALKEEPERS
Goalkeeper Leroy Zeller has earned the most preseason recognition of any Gaucho this year as he will look to play the role of defensive centerpiece this season. The German is one of the three Gauchos named to the Big West Preseason Team, and United Soccer Coaches tabbed Zeller as one of six Division I Goalkeepers to Watch in 2023. Additionally, TopDrawerSoccer ranks Zeller at No. 75 in their preseason Division I player rankings.
 
"The strength of the team starts in the back with Leroy," Vom Steeg said. "Goalkeeper of the Year in the conference, and any time you start with the back and a goalkeeper that is established like he is going into his last season, that's going to speak well for your defense."
 
Zeller's 16 clean sheets rank seventh in program history. Behind him, David Mitzner and Teddy Hutman both return to provide reliable backup options.
 
DEFENDERS
In front of Zeller, the Gauchos return an experienced back line while also adding talent to make up for the departure of Big West Defensive Player of the Year Henry Davies. Senior Timon Windisch started both of the Gauchos' preseason fixtures at center back, partnering with incoming transfer Haruki Utsumi to form a strong defensive core. Johannes Vedin also returns as a center back option for 2023, but did not see preseason action. Likewise at the outside back positions, Jorge Aldana and Caden Vom Steeg are both back for 2023 but stayed on the bench in preseason. Instead, Eddie Villeda started both fixtures at left back and played extended minutes, while returners Pablo Figueroa, Rene Pacheco and Kenny Villatoro, as well as freshman center back Andrew Kamienski split playing time at right back.
 
MIDFIELDERS
Vom Steeg and his staff have done some tinkering with their midfield to replace last year's captain, defensive midfielder Sam Fletcher, and all indications from the preseason are that it has paid off.
 
"We had to look at our midfield, we lost Sam from last year, so we had to look at our midfield and drop some players in," Vom Steeg said. "We have Filip (Basili) returning but we've added Mikkel (Goeling) to the mix, he's going to be an important player for us all year."
 
Goeling started both preseason fixtures in a defensive midfield position alongside Nalu Mack, who returns after missing the 2022 season, but both had liberty to venture forward and join the attack, and both were comfortable doing so. In the scrimmage against Loyola Marymount, Goeling's flicked header set up Mack to score off a first-half corner, and Goeling could have found the net himself against Westmont, if not for some brave goalkeeping. Basili started both fixtures on the bench but played well once subbed on.
 
Lucas Gonzalez will wear the armband this year as UC Santa Barbara's captain, and he showed his ability to lead from the front in the preseason, especially against Westmont. Gonzalez assisted the Gauchos' second goal, setting up Nemo Philipp, and scored one of his own. Plus, it was Gonzalez's corner that Goeling and Mack combined to turn home against LMU. Like Gonzalez, Philipp will look to play a key role in the Gauchos' attack this season.
 
FORWARDS
Along with attacking midfielders like Gonzalez and Philipp, the Gauchos return all but one of their key forwards from last season. Alexis Ledoux was named to The Big West Preseason Team, and Salvador Aguilar, who scored five goals in nine games last season, is poised to return after his 2022 campaign was cut short by injury. During the preseason, Xavier transfer Nicolas Willumsen started at striker for the Gauchos. The big, strong sophomore from Denmark gives UC Santa Barbara an additional option up front, with freshman Kavi Krishnan also possessing the speed and strength to cause problems for defenders. The San Jose native put himself in the right position to score his first Gaucho goal late in the game against Westmont.