STOCKTON, Calif. – The Tigers are ready to start the 2022 season at home as they host UC San Diego on Thursday for the first match of the season. After a quality 2021 season in which the Tigers finished second in the conference with a 4-1-2 record, the program was picked to finish third in the WCC Preseason poll with 38 points and one first-place vote.
"We are extremely excited about getting the 2022 season underway," said Head Coach Adam Reeves. "It should be a great environment for the players with the student body back on campus for WOW. We are looking forward to the challenges that UCSD imposes, and we must be able and willing to be patient and execute within our identity. I am familiar with Coach Pascale and his groups from our days in the CCAA. They are always extremely hard working, difficult to break down and disciplined. We have had a very good preseason and are excited about the season ahead."
The voting was extremely close at the top of the standings. Loyola Marymount, who tied Portland for third last year, received the final first-place vote and finished fourth in the poll with 34 points. Portland, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season after finishing tied for third, is the preseason favorite with 43 points and three first-place votes. Defending champion Santa Clara is second with 42 points and three first-place votes.
Yazid Omri and Ryan Her were named to the 2022 WCC Preseason Team for the second straight season. This is the third time Her has been named to a Preseason Team. Both players were recognized as First-Team All-WCC honorees after the 2021 season.
Her was second on the team last season in points with 16 and tied for the team lead in goals with six. Her had four game-winning goals and was the only player on the team with more than one game-winning goal.
Omri scored four goals, including one game-winning goal, and assisted on four more during the season while playing the fourth most minutes on the team. Omri put 16 shots on goal, which was the best on the team.
The Tigers start the season on a three-game homestand; after hosting UC San Diego, both CSU Bakersfield and CSUN come to Knoles field to challenge the Tigers. Pacific follows that up with a four-game road trip that starts with Sacramento State before heading east, taking on Xavier and Marshall. Pacific ends the road trip with a trip to Sin City, battling with UNLV.
The Tigers wrap up most of the non-conference schedule with matches against UC Davis and San Jose State.
The Tigers start the conference schedule with the defending WCC champion, Santa Clara, at home on October 1. A two-game road trip follows with the Tigers traveling to Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga before returning home to face Saint Mary's.
The Tigers wrap up the season with conference matchups at home against San Diego and Portland and an away matchup against San Francisco. As with 2021, the Tigers have a late-season non-conference matchup. The Tigers head to Stanford late to take on the Pac-12 school this season.
