Letter From Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso
 
This is a great time to be at Saint Mary's College! The fall into winter season for Gael Athletics is thriving – we can't wait to see the SMC community come out to support our two Top-20 teams in the nation!
 
That's right, Saint Mary's Athletics has two teams ranked among the top-20 in the nation. That's an impressive feat for a West Coast Conference school, to battle among 353 Division I schools.
The success of Athletics follows right in line with the college's rankings. Earlier this fall, Saint Mary's College was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Top Five Regional Universities in the West.
 
Saint Mary's men's soccer continues its impressive two-year run dominating on the soccer field. Men's soccer is currently No. 11 in the nation and is competing for its second consecutive WCC championship.
 
The SMC men's basketball team is preseason ranked No. 20 in both national polls, marking the third time in the past four seasons the Gaels have been ranked. The map above is from a recent CBS Sports article where the Gaels were showcased as the top team in California, surpassing those so-called power schools.
 
Over the past 12 years, only six men's basketball teams in the nation have been to the postseason (NCAA or NIT) each year. Here are the teams, look at this elite list we are among: Saint Mary's, Duke, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky.
 
Both teams are back in Moraga this week competing at home. The men's soccer team looks to remain on top with a home game against Loyola Marymount on Saturday. Men's basketball tips off in McKeon Pavilion for its first home game on Monday, Nov. 11.
 
One thing that helps our teams compete at a high level is our SMC community, especially our students. Students are always free to our home games and your intensity and support is definitely felt at our games.
 
This could be a very special year. I look forward to seeing everyone soon at an upcoming game. Go Gaels!