The SUA Men's Soccer Team enjoyed a stellar 2010 campaign. Despite injuries to 4 starters who missed numerous matches, the team was able to battle to a final record of 9-8-1.
The key to the team's success began with Junior goalkeeper Tim Sasser. Tim turned in outstanding performances in every match, making save after save. His cool demeanor in pressure-packed situations helped keep the rest of the team focused and organized. His leadership and fine play were definitely major reasons for the squad's success this year. Coach Cano rates Tim as the best goalie in the NAIA. Another important key to the team's success this year was Senior Fullback Ichiro Kobayashi. Ichiro combined speed and determination with an uncanny ability to read his opponents' moves to thwart attack after attack. Combining with Tim in goal, the team defense was always solid, keeping the team in every match. Ichiro will be sorely missed next year.
When one of the key starters, Gabe Chagolla, went down with an injury, Senior Masaru Nakajima stepped into the role of playmaker. Masa displayed tremendous skill, fitness, and determination in scoring 3 goals while also creating many scoring opportunities for his teammates. Joining Masa in the scoring column were Freshman Akari Takahata and Sophomore Marco Timm. Despite missing 8 games between them, Akari and Marco combined for 11 goals on the season. If not for their injuries, the team surely would have scored many more goals and racked up a few more victories.
This year's squad often played with only 1 or 2 substitutes and had to overcome a lot of adversity. The players played fearlessly and never stopped working. Coach Cano was "honored to be the coach and congratulations on the first ever winning season of SUA's short 3-year soccer history". With new recruits on the way and a solid nucleus of returning players, there is much reason for optimism as we look toward the 2011 campaign.
October Update: To say the least, our men's soccer team is battling through a tough season. With 4 injured starters and only 2 substitutes to rely, our team has had to dig down deep ... and they did. Despite all this, their record is 8 wins and 5 losses which is phenomenal! These men are incredibly resilient. In fact, Head Coach Cano shared that this is the most resilient team he's ever coached in 28 years."
To note, Junior Goal keeper and Team Captain Tim Sasser has kept the team on stable ground and in every game. Reinforcement also comes from their defense which consists of Freshman Tomo Tanaka from Queens, NY, Junior Travis Ko from Seattle, WA, and Senior Co-Team Captain Ichiro Kobayashi from Tokyo, Japan. Without this trio defending, this team would be lost. In addition, Senior mid-fielder Masaru Nakajima has been a key factor for the team as well. With his fellow mid-fielder out with an injury, Nakajima has been holding up playing mid-field at a high level. "He's done a fantastic job for 2 mid-fielders," said Head Coach Cano. And in their last match vs. Cal Tech (Pasadena), our offense demonstrated their strength with Sophomores Marco Timm and Marco Ocampo scoring for their big win.
September Update: After an 0-2 start to the season, the men have rebounded with an outstanding turnaround, winning 4 games in a row. However, it comes with the disappointing loss of our star center forward Akari Takahata who had scored 6 goals in 6 games before fracturing his cheek bone. He will be sorely missed.
The men have been playing at a very high level. A few of the standouts include junior goalkeeper Tim Sassar along with sophomores Bernardo Gonzales, Omar Argeaga, and Seiichi Izumi. Freshman Tomo Tanaka has also been an important contributor.
"We have a lot of games to go-and they are looking good, especially last night defeating San Diego Christian 2-1 in sudden death overtime. I'm so proud of them."- Coach Cano
|
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Location |
Result |
Stats |
|
Aug. 20 |
Arizona Western (Scirmmage) |
7:00PM |
Home |
||
|
Aug. 27 |
N.I.L.S.A (Scrimmage) |
7:00PM |
Home |
||
|
Sept. 1 |
Whittier |
7:00pm |
Home |
L 0-3 |
|
|
Sept. 3 |
Marymount |
7:00PM |
Home |
L 1-2 |
|
|
Sept. 6 |
Occidental |
3:00PM |
Los Angeles |
W 4-3 |
|
|
Sept. 9 |
Bethany |
7:00PM |
Home |
W 2-0 |
|
|
Sept. 10 |
Southwestern |
7:00PM |
Home |
W 3-0 |
|
|
Sept. 14 |
SD Christian |
4:00PM |
San Diego |
W 2-1 |
|
|
Sept. 16 |
La Sierra |
5:00PM |
Riverside |
W 2-0 |
|
|
Sept. 18 |
Concordia |
7:00PM |
Home |
W 2-0 |
|
|
Sept. 22 |
Vanguard |
6:00PM |
Costa Mesa |
L 1-10 |
|
|
Sept. 28 |
Bethesda |
7:00PM |
Home |
L 0-1 OT |
|
|
Oct. 1 |
Southwestern |
7:00PM |
Phoenix, AZ |
W 2-1 OT |
|
|
Oct. 7 |
CSU Marcos |
4:00PM |
San Marcos |
L 0-2 |
|
|
Oct. 11 |
Cal Tech |
4:00PM |
Pasadena |
W 3-0 |
|
|
Oct. 15 |
Great Falls |
7:00PM |
Home |
L 2-3 |
|
|
Oct. 21 |
La Sierra |
7:00PM |
Home |
T 2-2 DBL OT |
|
|
Oct. 24 |
Embry Riddle |
1:00PM |
Home |
L 2-9 |
|
|
Oct. 29 |
Marymount |
7:00PM |
HDC |
L 0-2 |
|
|
Nov. 1 |
Caltech |
7:00PM |
Home |
- Home games in bold print
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: MIKE MOORE (949)480-4155 / mmoore@soka.edu
HEAD COACH / DIRECTOR OR SOCCER: MARINE CANO (949)480-4175 / mcano@soka.edu
ASSIST. COACH / DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING: DAVE MCLEISH (940)480-4248 / dmcleish@soka.edu
|
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Location |
Result |
Stats |
|
Aug. 21 |
Arizona Western (Scirmmage) |
7:00PM |
Home |
L 0-2 |
|
|
Aug. 28 |
Hope International |
7:00PM |
Home |
T 0-0 OT |
|
|
Sept. 2 |
SD Christian |
7:00pm |
Home |
L 1-2 OT |
|
|
Sept. 5 |
Trinity International |
7:00PM |
Home |
W 1-0 OT |
|
|
Sept. 8 |
Masters |
5:00PM |
Home |
L 0-1 |
|
|
Sept. 11 |
Pomona-Pitzer |
7:00PM |
Home |
L 0-1 OT |
|
|
Sept. 18 |
Biola |
7:00PM |
Away |
L 1-4 |
|
|
Sept. 22 |
Vanguard |
7:00PM |
Soka |
L 0-4 |
|
|
Sept. 25 |
Westminster |
4:30PM |
Away |
L 0-4 |
|
|
Sept. 27 |
Great Falls University |
11:00AM |
Away |
L 0-2 |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
La Sierra |
3:00PM |
Soka |
W 4-1 |
|
|
Oct. 9 |
Chapman |
7:00PM |
Away |
L 0-3 |
|
|
Oct. 12 |
Caltech |
4:00PM |
Away |
W 4-0 |
|
|
Oct. 15 |
Embry-Riddle |
7:00PM |
Away |
L 2-0 |
|
|
Oct. 16 |
Southwestern |
7:00PM |
Away |
W 2-0 |
|
|
Oct. 23 |
CSU San Marcos |
7:00PM |
Home |
T 2-2 OT |
|
|
Oct. 29 |
La Sierra |
7:00PM |
Away |
W 1-0 |
|
|
Nov. 5 |
Caltech |
7:00PM |
Home |
- Home games in bold print
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: MIKE MOORE (949)480-4155 / mmoore@soka.edu