Pac-12 men’s and women’s soccer kicks off on Aug. 17 across Pac-12 Networks

The 2023 Pac-12 men’s and women’s soccer seasons are on deck with top matchups and storylines set to be showcased across Pac-12 Networks beginning Thursday, Aug. 17.

Complete schedules for Pac-12 men’s and women’s soccer are available at Pac-12.com.

PAC-12 WOMEN’S SOCCER

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• All 12 squads are in action on Thursday, Aug. 17, with contests airing on Pac-12 Networks and ESPN platforms.
• No. 1 UCLA hosts Georgia on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network. 
• California visits No. 2 North Carolina on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT on ACC Network Extra. 
• Pac-12 Insider is home to 14 women’s soccer contests this season, including a top non-conference clash on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT between No. 4 Duke and three-time national champion No. 11 Stanford. 
• No. 1 UCLA hosts No. 11 Stanford in a top league showdown on Sunday, Oct. 29 (12 p.m. PT / 1 p.m. MT) on Pac-12 Networks.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Pac-12 Networks’ Troy Clardy: “Pac-12 women’s soccer is championship-caliber soccer in just about every match! UCLA wears the crown, and Stanford should be, well, Stanford. Those two teams will get top billing, and rightfully so. But the beauty of this league is that there's usually a breakout team that flies underneath the radar until you look up and they're making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament (could that be Cal this year?). There's usually a player turning in an eye-popping season for a team that normally doesn't get as much notice as the UCLAs and Stanfords of the conference (how about Colorado's Shyra James?).”

Pac-12 Networks’ Ann Schatz: “UCLA, Stanford, and USC should once again be chasing the title, but let's be clear: the Bruins are the team to beat. What head coach Margueritte Aozasa did last year was epic. Memorable. Special. UCLA winning the national title in dramatic, Hollywood fashion was as good as it gets, and the Bruins bring back quality players from that title team. But don’t sit on a quality Stanford bunch, and USC’s early NCAA tournament exit has the Trojans looking to right the ship; they’ll be in the hunt. Fun team to watch? Arizona! I love what coach [Becca] Moros has done with the ‘Cats. They're not quite ready for a prime-time Pac-12 championship run but they are getting close.”

Clardy: “One thing I've learned in eight years of calling Pac-12 women's soccer: underestimate the Washington State Cougars at your own risk. Back when I first started calling their matches, the Cougs were winning games with one part athleticism and three parts guile. But for the past few years, they've been winning games, and getting to a College Cup, with an equal balance of athleticism, guile, and terrific soccer skill. They missed the NCAA Tournament last season, but don't be fooled. Always can't wait to see what Todd Shulenberger and the Cougs have cooking every single year.”

PAC-12 MEN’S SOCCER

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Pac-12 men’s soccer season kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 24 with top matchups from around the league airing exclusively on Pac-12 Network, including No. 7 Stanford hosting No. 8 Creighton (3 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. MT), Oregon State taking on No. 21 Florida International (5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT), and No. 6 Washington battling South Florida (7:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. MT).
• UCLA travels east on Thursday to play Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT before squaring off against James Madison on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT. The Bruins are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Conference play is in full swing on Thursday, Sept. 14, with No. 6 Washington visiting No. 7 Stanford at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network. These two teams have won nine of the last 10 Pac-12 Titles.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Clardy: “Another rock-em, sock-em year! Drop whatever you're doing when Stanford and Washington square off against each other. Oregon State has been a fantastic story and a tough team to beat the past few years; let's see what the new head coach brings. UCLA is coming off of a terrific showing in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Cal and San Diego State keep building. There is no shortage of compelling storylines in this league, which should make for another dramatic season.”

Schatz: “Washington leads the way on the men’s side. Jamie Clark returns a ton of talent and welcomes a strong freshman class, complemented by some impact transfers. The Huskies are hungry after last year's early NCAA Tournament exit, and a strong preseason and Pac-12 schedule will have Clark’s gang comfortable wearing the favorite’s bullseye on their backs.”

“Fun teams to watch on the men’s side? Gotta go with Washington followed by UCLA. I’m always blown away by how guys emerge for the Huskies once they get into the rotation. Clark is a master at getting his guys to be patient. To wait, watch, and learn, and to always be ready for their turn. It never fails. Ilijah Paul is a perfect example; he went from a little used forward in 2021 to one of the best in all of college soccer as a sophomore. And for UCLA, this is a club that never takes its foot off the gas. A ton of fun to watch, and offensive pieces that will ensure high-scoring matches.”

Additional coverage of the 2023-24 season for all Pac-12 sports can be followed all year long across Pac-12 digital and social media channels on Pac-12.com, Facebook (facebook.com/Pac12Conference), Instagram (@Pac12Conference), Threads (@pac12conference), TikTok (@Pac12Network), Twitter (@Pac12Network & @Pac12) and YouTube (youtube.com/pac12).