IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team is the preseason favorite for the upcoming WWPA season after a poll of head coaches across the league.

The defending conference champs from Irvine won their first WWPA Conference title last season after upending Biola in the conference tournament championship game. CUI advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Now the Golden Eagles have a chance to add to that legacy with many returning players who were integral to that historic run a year ago.

Leading scorers Hugo Wouters and Dimitrios Koritsas, who were both All-WWPA selections as true freshmen, are back to lead the CUI offense along with senior standout Kaliq Khan.

Koritsas led CUI with 72 goals and 111 points (39 assists) last season. Wouters was also a force, netting 66 Goals and handing out a team-high 42 assists and team-high 46 recorded steals.

Khan provided 41 goals, 39 assists and won 62% of his sprints. He also racked up 13 multi-goal games last season.

"We are excited to build upon last year's success," said CUI head coach Justin Johnson. "We return much of our goal scoring output from a year ago while also bolstering a few positions of need. This group has the potential to make a name for itself and continue to raise our program to new heights."

After leading the Golden Eagles to their first conference title in the NCAA DII era, Johnson was named ACWPC DII National Coach of the Year while assistant coach Kostas Koulouris was also honored as ACWPC DII National Assistant Coach of the Year.

The entire group is eager to see what the future holds - with the regular season beginning this Friday and Saturday at a local tournament hosted by UC Irvine.

CUI plays twice each day, beginning Friday at 11:40 a.m. against Cal State Fullerton. CUI's Cade Petersen will get to face his brother Jace once again at the pool.

Concordia's home opener is on October 1st as part of a doubleheader at Woollett Aquatics Center. Games will be at 10 am and 1 pm that day against McKendree and Mount St. Mary's respectively.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule

CLICK HERE for the full WWPA Season Preview