ARLINGTON, Texas — The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced its preseason awards and coaches poll on Thursday, and Utah Valley had three players voted to the preseason All-WAC team.
Junior midfielder Alejandro Silva, senior defender Leon Olacio, and sophomore forward Mark Andros were selected to the preseason All-WAC team, as voted on by the league's coaches. This is just the second time in program history that three Utah Valley players were voted to the preseason All-WAC team, joining the 2016 squad that went on to win the WAC regular season title. The Wolverines were picked to finish sixth in the league.
Silva, a junior midfielder from Salt Lake City, is coming off a strong sophomore campaign during which he led Utah Valley in assists with six. Silva is the leading returner in minutes played at 1,228 and comes into 2023 ranking tied for third in career assists with 13.
Olacio, a senior defender from Vado, New Mexico, is entering his second season as a Wolverine. The Neosho County CC transfer was an integral part of the Utah Valley defense in 2022 that led the WAC in shutouts with seven and held the opposition to just one goal in five games at Clyde Field. Olacio is second among returners in minutes played at 1,221.
Andros, a sophomore forward from Monclova, Mexico, led the Wolverines in goals with five last season despite ranking 12th among outfield players in minutes played at 633. Andros scored in three consecutive games — against No. 2 Washington, CSUN, and UC Santa Barbara — and scored the game-winning goal against California Baptist in the regular season finale to clinch Utah Valley's spot in the WAC Tournament.
The Wolverines were selected to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll. Defending tournament champions California Baptist was selected as the preseason favorite with eight first place votes, followed by San José State with one. Air Force, Seattle U, and Grand Canyon were picked to finish third through fifth respectively. UTRGV, UNLV, and Utah Tech rounded out the bottom three.
2023 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Thaddaeus Dewing, Sr., F, Air Force
2023 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Beecham, Sr., D, California Baptist
2023 WAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: David Sweeney, Grad, San José State
2023 Preseason All-WAC Team
GK – David Sweeney, Grad, San José State
D – Thomas Beecham, Sr., California Baptist
D – Antonio Gomez, Sr., California Baptist
D – Joel Garcia, Sr., San José State
D – Kasper Poulsgaard, Sr., San José State
D – Leon Olacio, Sr., Utah Valley
MF – Alejandro Silva, Jr., Utah Valley
MF – Beau Leroux, Jr., San José State
MF – Innocent Jibril Rodet, R-Jr., Grand Canyon
F – Thaddaeus Dewing, Sr., Air Force
F – Luis Mueller, Sr., California Baptist
F – Mark Andros, So., Utah Valley
