The California men head into a high profile Pac-10 match with UCLA today, and however it turns out, the Golden Bears believe they’re equipped to reach lofty heights this season.

The good vibes emanating from Cal, currently 7th in our college rankings (see rankings here), stem from a variety of factors.

For starters, the team retains the core of the group that reached the third round of the NCAAs in 2008 before bowing out to Maryland. So they’re a year more experienced, and most of the holdovers feel they’re one year better too.

“We’ve built more on our team unity and all the principles and everything that we’ve already established,” said defender and team captain A.J. Soares. “We have a system here where every guy can step in and it’s not so much about the individual. It’s about the philosophy.”

But the Golden Bears (8-3-0, 2-1-0) do have stars. Andrew Wiedeman, for starters. The All-American paces the team with 10 goals and 23 points. He’s always been a major threat, but what has made him more dangerous this season is the addition of transfer Jeff Cosgriff, who came over from Santa Clara and has thrived with six goals and 16 points.

“Having Jeff really puts me in great positions,” Wiedeman said. “That’s been the main thing I’ve focused on individually this season is putting myself in better scoring spots. As a team we’re clicking better than we ever have and our culture is further along.”

The team’s depth is pretty far along too.

Soares pointed to a match earlier this year when goalkeeper David Bingham suffered an injury and freshman Robby Gogatz stepped in admirably.

Yep, this team definitely trusts one another.

“When we play well we think we can win every game,” Soares said. “The main thing is consistency. When we play consistent soccer we can beat any team but you have to do that when you get into tough competitions. If you have a bad stretch of games and your season can be over.”