Aug. 10, 2007

FULLERTON, CA - The Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the 2007 Big West Conference race according to a vote of the league's coaches released by the conference office on Aug. 8.

The Titans received 26 points overall in a tight race for the third spot as only five points seperated them from UC Davis in sixth place.

Defending NCAA National Champion UC Santa Barbara was picked to win the Big West title for the sixth straight season, leading the way with six first-place votes and 48 points overall.

The Gauchos were closely followed by Cal State Northridge, which claimed the final first-place vote and racked up 43 points to finish second.

UC Irvine, coming off a school-record 13-win season, finished fourth in the poll with 24 points and is followed by Cal Poly (23 points), UC Davis (21), and UC Riverside (11).

Guided by second-year head coach Bob Ammann, Fullerton returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from its 2006 squad that finished 7-11-1 overall and 3-7 in conference play.

The Titans return three of their top four scorers from a season ago, led by Freshman All-American and Big West Freshman of the Year Michael Farfan, who finished with five goals and four assists last season and is this year's top returning scorer.

Seniors Amir Shafii (4 goals, 3 assists) and Skyler Thuresson (3 goals, 3 assists) also return to pace the offense.

Fullerton opens its 2007 regular season with the first of five straight matches at home on Aug. 31 as the Titans host Long Island University at 7 p.m.

BIG WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. UC Santa Barbara (6) - 48
2. Cal State Northridge (1) - 43
3. Cal State Fullerton - 26
4. UC Irvine - 24
5. Cal Poly - 23
6. UC Davis - 21
7. UC Riverside - 11

() - first place votes