The Big West Conference had 10 players drafted in the 2012 MLS Draft. The Atlantic Coast Conference had nine. That is not a direct correlation between the conferences, but it proves the point that many coaches in the conference and on the west coast have preached for the past few years – there are good players and strong teams in the Big West.

The loss of the 10 players to MLS does have it pitfalls though, as the teams are forced to use the spring season to figure out how to fill the vacated spots.

Down the coast, UC Santa Barbara has just started spring ball with a game last week against Cerritos College. New additions to the squad Dion Acoff (transfer from Creighton) and Achille Campion (transfer from Belhaven [NAIA]) each scored in a 2-0 victory.

Head coach Tim Vom Steeg will be leaning on the new recruits in the fall after losing five seniors and three underclassmen from last year’s squad.

Luna is not the only former U.S. Residency Program product who is bound for a Big West program.

Read the rest: Big West Men's Soccer Spring Preview | College Soccer News