2016 Boys Soccer Capsules
ADELSON SCHOOL
League: Independent
Head coach: William Naftaly, third season
2015 record: 10-5 (independent)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (eight)
Top athletes: MF/F Nevo Ziv (Sr.), MF Dylan Soresman (Jr.), F/D Ben Elharrar (Jr.)
Outlook: The Lions bring back 14 players from last year’s team.
Ziv (24 goals, 7 assists), Elharrar (7 goals, 4 assists) and Soresman (5 goals) should be among the leaders on a team that is co-ed. Three girls are on the squad, as the Lions still are hoping to get a girls soccer program going.
“The team is entering its second season as an independent and would like to continue to build off of last year’s successful season,” Naftaly said.
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ARBOR VIEW
League: Class 4A Northwest League
Head coach: Robert Starbird, fifth season
2015 record: 9-10-1 (3-5 Northwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fiftreen (four)
Top athletes: F Nicklaus Dongmann (Jr.), MF Christian Limon (Sr.), MF Zachary Breaz (Jr.), D Ricardo Carrera (Jr.)
Outlook: Dongmann (13 goals, 6 assists) and Limon (4 goals, 4 assists) lead a group of 15 returning lettermen for the Aggies.
“After the realignment, the Northwest League has a lot of good teams and is going to be very competitive,” Starbird said. “With all our returners, we hope to mesh well, play as a team and give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs.”
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BASIC
League: Class 4A Southeast League
Head coach: Michael Tribett, second season
2015 record: 0-16 (0-10 Southeast, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (six)
Top athletes: MF Jathan Sibal (Sr.), D Brayden Hummel, D Brendan Kirkendall (Sr.), F Kevin Barcenas
Outlook: The Wolves have struggled to be competitive in recent years, but have a more optimistic look this season.
Eight returning lettermen and Tribett returning for his second season give Basic some continuity.
“I think this is going to be the best year soccer has had in the last seven years of the school,” Tribett said. “I have high hopes as a returning coach with many players who have a passion for working hard as a team.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
League: Class 4A Southwest League
Head coach: Tommy Tate, second season
2015 record: 11-4-4 (3-2-3 Southwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Sixteen (seven)
Top athletes: MF Justin Rasmussen (Sr.), MF Cobi DeLeon (Sr.), D Jeffrey Wright (Sr.), MF Corrigan Neville (Jr.)
Outlook: Rasmussen (10 goals, 4 assists), DeLeon (3 goals, 7 assists) and Wright (6 goals, 6 assists) should be among the leaders for the Gaels.
“They anchor a solid group of upperclassmen,” Tate said. “Talented junior C.J. Neville will look to have a breakout season.
“The Bishop Gorman boys team will be committed to playing an attractive brand of soccer, with the hopes of bringing another state title home.”
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CANYON SPRINGS
League: Class 4A Northeast League
Head coach: Dan Myers, seventh season
2015 record: 13-2-3 (7-1 Northeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (five)
Top athletes: F Eduardo Quintero Rodriguez (Jr.), GK Felix Dominguez-Vera (Sr.), D Cesar Becerra (Sr.), MF Edgar Donate (Jr.)
Outlook: Seven lettermen return for the Pioneers, who won the Northeast League title last year.
Quintero Rodriguez (12 goals, 1 assist) and Donate (5 goals, 12 assists) should be among the leaders with Becerra anchoring the defense in front of Dominguez-Vera.
“Team speed and speed of play will be key for the team’s success,” Myers said. “If the team works hard and believes in each other, success will follow.”
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CENTENNIAL
League: Class 4A Northwest League
Head coach: Paul George, second season
2015 record: 6-4-7 (4-1-3 Northwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (10)
Top athletes: MF Logan Bodnar (Sr.), MF Jacob Garcia (Sr.), D Ahmed Green (Jr.), F Manny Lopez (Sr.), D Alex Maesaka (Jr.), GK Jacob Mays (Jr.), F Adrian Martinez (Sr.), D Jesus Vargas (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs were competitive in nearly every match last year, as evidenced by their 6-4-7 record. With 10 starters back, there’s no reason to think the team won’t be in the hunt this year.
“With a strong core of experienced players returning from last year’s team, mixed in with some fresh new talent, we have an excellent opportunity to do well and make a run deep into the playoffs,” George said.
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CHAPARRAL
League: Class 3A Sunrise League
Head coach: Eric Rolwing, fifth season
2015 record: 12-5-3 (11-2-1 Sunrise, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (six)
Top athletes: F Omar Miranda (Sr.), D Miguel Mendoza (Jr.), MF Ivan Topete (Sr.), MF Ramiro Alvarado (Sr.)
Outlook: Nine lettermen return for the defending Sunrise League champions.
Miranda (10 goals, 11 assists) was second on the team in scoring last year. Mendoza (5 goals, 4 assists) and Alvarado (3 goals, 4 assists) also were among the team’s top seven scorers.
“We are a good team, but we don’t know quite yet if we are a great team,” Rolwing said. “Time will tell.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
League: Class 4A Northwest League
Head coach: Mark Bailey, eighth season
2015 record: 18-4-5 (7-0-1 Northwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (five)
Top athletes: MF Miguel Rubio (Jr.), F Dresdan Quackenbush (Sr.), F Arturo Bahena (Sr.), D Luis Gallardo (Sr.), MF Edgar Carrillo (Sr.)
Outlook: After winning the Sunset Region title last year, the Spartans have to replace more than half of their starting lineup.
“We have a lot of new faces on our team this year, and we are really young,” Bailey said. “I’m excited to see how the solid group of returners melds with the new players. Replacing our graduated seniors will be tough, but I feel like our young players and our core of veterans have the skills, confidence and experience to continue the success we’ve enjoyed over the past few seasons.”
Bahena (13 goals), Quackenbush (11 goals, 8 assists), Rubio (2 goals, 5 assists) and Carrillo (6 assists) return to spark the offense. Gallardo was one of the Spartans’ top defenders last year and will anchor the defense.
“As always, we have high expectations and look forward to seeing how the season plays out as we look to build on last season’s region title and loss in the state semifinals,” Bailey said. “The Northwest League is really tough following realignment. We won’t have any time to relax during the season and expect our league to be very competitive.
“We’ve been to state two years in a row now, and we would love a chance to get back to the state tournament and do something special.”
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DEL SOL
League: Class 3A Sunrise League
Head coach: John Britt, 13th season
2015 record: 10-6-3 (8-4-2 Sunrise, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top athletes: F/MF Diego Flores (Sr.), D Kevin Hernandez (Sr.), F/MF Diego Nieves (Sr.), F/MF Ruben Ortiz (Sr.), F/MF Erik Serrano (Sr.)
Outlook: A playoff team last season, the Dragons certainly seem to have the firepower to make it back to the postseason.
Nieves (18 goals, 11 assists), Ortiz (13 goals, 2 assists), Serrano (5 goals, 13 assists) and Flores (5 goals, 10 assists) all return up front or in the midfield for Del Sol with Hernandez (3 goals) back on defense.
“We want to improve on last year’s results,” Britt said.
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DESERT PINES
League: Class 3A Sunset League
Head coach: James Silbert, first season
2015 record: 7-4-3 (7-4-3 Sunrise, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (five)
Top athletes: D Kevin Sanchez (Sr.), D Eligio Gandarilla (Sr.), F Joel Sanchez (So.), D Jaime Lujan (So.)
Outlook: The Jaguars narrowly missed out on a playoff spot last season, but bring back nine lettermen this year.
“We will have a very strong defense with three of the four starting defenders coming back alongside an all-state level goalkeeper,” Silbert said. “We will have at least nine seniors on the team, giving us a lot of experience and depth.
“We are in a strong soccer conference, but we look to be very competitive. We hope to have a strong push to and through the playoffs this season.”
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DURANGO
League: Class 4A Southwest League
Head coach: Richard Cuellar, fourth season
2015 record: 11-5-6 (3-2-3 Southwest, second)
Returning starters: Nine
Top athletes: GK Paolo Sanataro (Sr.), MF Oscar Rodriguez (Sr.), D Marcos DelAngel-Parra (Sr.), D Anthony Sotelo (Sr.)
Outlook: Nine starters return for the Trailblazers, who finished second in the Southwest last year and advanced to the Sunset Region semifinals.
“We’re looking forward to having a great season and keeping the chemistry we have had with the team,” Cuellar said. “We are hoping to improve our record and striving to bring a state championship home to Durango.”
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ELDORADO
League: Class 4A Northeast League
Head coach: David Ostler, first season
2015 record: 7-10-2 (4-4-2 Southeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (three)
Top athletes: MF Jesus Meza (Sr.), MF Andres Mendoza (Jr.), F Bryant Juarez (Sr.)
Outlook: Ostler, who was the school’s girls soccer coach the past several years, takes over for long-time friend and mentor Gerald Pentsil, who retired after last season.
Ostler inherits a team with only three returning starters, including Juarez, who had eight goals last season.
“We are replacing most of our starting lineup, but our biggest loss is that of head coach Gerald Pentsil,” Ostler said. “This young squad looks to make a name for itself as it forges a new identity.”
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FOOTHILL
League: Class 4A Southeast League
Head coach: Andrew Risheg, 10th season
2015 record: 10-10-1 (4-5-1 Southeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (seven)
Top athletes: D Kapono Maruyama (Jr.), D Kyle Thomas (Sr.), MF Trent Milne (Jr.), MF Becca Nyonyintono (So.), F Regan Mugume (Jr.)
Outlook: The Falcons bring back seven starters, but will need to make up for the loss of leading scorer Michael Carnahan (19 goals, 5 assists) to graduation.
Nyonyintono (6 goals, 7 assists), Mugume (4 goals, 4 assists) and Milne (4 goals, 2 assists) are the leading returning scorers.
Maruyama and Thomas will help anchor the defense.
“The realignment made for a very strong side, so we are hoping to be able to compete and earn a playoff berth,” Risheg said.
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GREEN VALLEY
League: Class 4A Southeast League
Head coach: Jacob Rivera, sixth season
2015 record: 25-3-2 (10-0 Southeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (three)
Top athletes: MF Estevan Uribe (So.), MF/F Cole Aronson (Sr.), D Thoren Kaufusi (Jr.), MF Agustin Molina (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gators won the Sunrise Region title last year, but 14 players from that squad have graduated, leaving some holes to fill.
“We look to rebuild the program with youth and a mixture of upperclassmen,” Rivera said. “We have a lot to learn, coach and look forward to, however we understand that we must learn to play as a cohesive unit in order to challenge for a playoff spot.
“There will be bumps and bruises along the way, but the experience our underclassmen from last year received in our title run will be imperative to the overall success of our team.”
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LEGACY
League: Class 4A Northwest League
Head coach: Jorge Cobian, third season
2015 record: 9-10-4 (4-3-1 Southwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (10)
Top athletes: D Matthew Beasley (Sr.), F Daniel Quinones (Jr.), MF Oscar Gonzalez (So.), MF Eduardo Gamino (Jr.), GK Oliver Garcia (Jr.), GK Emmanuel Sanchez (Jr.), D Brandon Adams (Sr.), D/MF/F Justin McCabe (Sr.), MF Angel Acosta (Jr.), MF Carlos Sanchez (Jr.), D/MF/F Diego Cueva (Sr.)
Outlook: Champions in a competitive Southwest League last year, the Longhorns return 12 lettermen as they shift back to the Northwest and should be one of the favorites to compete for the league title.
“This year, our team is made up of new and young talent, but with a large number of key starters returning, the Longhorns should have a strong season,” Cobian said.
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LIBERTY
League: Class 4A Southeast League
Head coach: George Rodriguez, second season
2015 record: 4-14-1 (2-5-1 Northeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (three)
Top athletes: D Danny Amesquita, D Livingston Dennis
Outlook: The Patriots are hoping to improve this year.
“We are looking to get out of the first round (of the playoffs) this year,” Rodriguez said. “We were very close last year against Coronado. We are only losing four seniors, so it should be a good rebuilding year.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise League
Head coach: Jared Bushman, fifth season
2015 record: 2-18-1 (0-14 Sunrise, eighth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (six)
Top athletes: MF Israel Rubio (Jr.), D Josh Lee (Jr.), GK Tanner Johnson (Jr.), D Ryan Sorrells (Jr.), MF Brian Robles (So.)
Outlook: Twelve letter winners return for the Pirates, who remain young as only one senior is among that group of returnees.
Rubio had 10 goals and six assists last year, and Robles added four goals for the Pirates, who should be improved.
“We hope to build from what we learned last year and have our best season in recent history,” Bushman said. “We believe we can be a playoff-caliber team this season.”
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MOJAVE
League: Class 3A Sunset League
Head coach: Rachal Huntsinger, ninth season
2015 record: 10-8-1 (9-5 Sunset, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Three (one)
Top athletes: D Victor Barcenas (Sr.), MF Omar Serrano (Sr.), F Christopher Reyes (Jr.)
Outlook: Graduation took its toll on the Rattlers, who return only one starter.
“We are a very young team this season,” Huntsinger said. “I look forward to what the new players bring to the table.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
League: Class 4A Northwest League
Head coach: Brian Lavoie, first season
2015 record: 3-8-3 (1-5-2 Southwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (six)
Top athletes: MF Jordan Tschogl (Sr.), MF Jack Guynn (Sr.), MF Pablo Chaves (Sr.), D Grant Johnson (Jr.)
Outlook: Lavoie takes over a team that missed the playoffs last year, but should be more experienced with six starters back.
“We have a relatively young team coming off a down year,” Lavoie said. “We hope to improve on last year’s results, but the realignment of the league will make it difficult.”
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SIERRA VISTA
League: Class 4A Southwest League
Head coach: Ryan Quinn, 13th season
2015 record: 9-12 (7-7 Sunset, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (nine)
Top athletes: MF Calvin Aguirre (Sr.), F Zekarias Kassaye (Sr.), MF Tanner Erwin (Jr.), MF Daniel Perez (Jr.), D Greg Billingsley (Sr.)
Outlook: Having 12 lettermen return is never a bad thing, and the Mountain Lions will be more experienced this year as a result.
Perez (5 goals, 2 assists), Aguirre (4 goals, 4 assists), Kassaye (3 goals, 4 assists) and Erwin (4 assists) all can be offensive threats.
“We are returning a good portion of the team and have a solid group of incoming freshmen and other players that should make us a strong team this season,” Quinn said. “We are looking to make the playoffs and to make a run in the playoffs this season.”
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SILVERADO
League: Class 4A Southeast League
Head coach: Kurtis Cenatiempo, second season
2015 record: 2-11-3 (1-6-1 Northeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (six)
Top athletes: F Jaime Ayala (Jr.), MF Joel Samayoa (Jr.), D Tristan Alvarez (Sr.), MF Robert Duplessis (Jr.)
Outlook: The Skyhawks have taken their lumps in the past two season, but are hoping the work young players have done will pay off this year.
“The core of this team is a very well-balanced group that will be playing together now for their third year in a row,” Cenatiempo said.
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SPRING VALLEY
League: Class 4A Southwest League
Head coach: James Tippett, fifth season
2015 record: 9-9-1 (8-5-1 Sunset, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (10)
Top athletes: MF David Van Hoose (Sr.), F Ethan Orme (Sr.), MF Jose Lopez (Sr.), MF Blake Pride-Zorn (Sr.), GK Ethan Harper (Jr.)
Outlook: What coach wouldn’t want to have 10 starters return from a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs?
Tippett has that luxury this year, though the Grizzlies do move up from Division I-A to Class 4A. Still, they should be in fine shape to be competitive.
“The expectations for this team are high as they have senior leadership and 12 returning players from the team that knocked off a No. 1 seed in the playoffs last season,” Tippett said. “Playoffs are the goal again, with the ultimate goal of the state tournament.”
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TECH
League: Class 3A Sunrise League
Head coach: Josh Jones, 18th season
2015 record: 16-9-2 (8-4-2 Sunrise, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (six)
Top athletes: MF Joel Velazquez (Sr.), MF/F Andres Santana (Sr.), D Angel Nunez (Jr.), D/F Eduardo Lopez (Jr.), MF Asish Pandey (So.), MF/F Eduardo Gomez (So.)
Outlook: Despite being the Sunrise League’s No. 4 seed entering the postseason last year, the Roadrunners advanced to the Division I-A title match.
Six starters return from that squad, and with that some offensive firepower in Velazquez (9 goals, 12 assists), Pandey (6 goals, 6 assists), Gomez (6 goals, 4 assists) and Nunez (4 goals, 4 assists).
“Tech will be really young this year with only six seniors, but returns nine players that were on the team during their playoff run last year,” Jones said. “If the younger players step up in key positions, the team’s goal is to make another strong playoff run.”
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VIRGIN VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise League
Head coach: Chris Park, first season
2015 record: 8-9-2 (4-8-2 Sunrise, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (five)
Top athletes: MF/F Pedro Osuna-Gomez (Sr.), MF Fredy Gomez (Sr.), D Justin Cazares (Sr.), MF Miguel Escobedo (Jr.), GK Hayden Johnson (Jr.)
Outlook: Six lettermen return for the Bulldogs, who hope to show improvement this season.
“We’re pretty young, but I think we’re very strong defensively,” Park said.
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WESTERN
League: Class 3A Sunset League
Head coach: Kory Pippin, first season
2015 record: 18-2-2 (14-0 Sunset, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (three)
Top athletes: GK Jose Anaya (Sr.), F Angel Gutierrez (Sr.), F David Ginsburg (Sr.)
Outlook: Pippin, who served as the team’s assistant coach the last two years, takes over the head coaching position, but has just three starters back from the squad that ran the table in the Sunset League last year.
In all, seven lettermen are back, including Anaya (11 shutouts), Gutierrez (12 goals, 2 assists) and Ginsburg (10 goals, 3 assists).
“That leadership, combined with a lot of young talent has created a very interesting, competitive environment that I believe will breed success in the months to come,” Pippin said. “With the new realignment, our boys look forward to the challenges ahead as they defend their four consecutive league championships.”
