Jacob Thompson
Soccer
9/5/2024 10:38:00 AM
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 2024 Central Washington College soccer season is upon us because the ‘Cats look to show why they should be the preseason favorites in simply their third yr of being members of the Lone Star Convention. The Wildcats will tackle the San Diego Toreros on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m. from Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif.
GAME INFORMATION
ESPN+: HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
LAST SEASON
The Wildcats had a historic season in 2023 incomes their first NCAA Division II playoff victory and advancing to their first regional closing each for the primary time because the 2009 season. The Wildcats season began out sluggish dropping their first two contests at Weber State and in opposition to Montana Tech earlier than rattling off seven-straight victories to open LSC play highlighted by a victory over then Ninth-ranked Angelo State, a homecoming victory over West Texas A&M and a come-from-behind victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The roll was halted within the LSC championship sport at Seventeenth-ranked UTPB. The ‘Cats regrouped and pulled off back-to-back come-from-behind victories on the street within the first two rounds of the playoffs, first a 16-13 time beyond regulation victory at then Tenth-ranked Western Colorado and a 21-17 victory at Twenty first-ranked Bemidji State. The season got here to a detailed within the regional finale because the ‘Cats tied issues up at 14 with 1st-ranked Colorado College of Mines, however the Orediggers pulled away within the second half to provide Mines the 38-14 victory.
The Wildcats had many particular person accomplishments as senior security Tanner Volk had the season of the century main the complete NCAA in interceptions with 13 in addition to main the complete NCAA Division II in complete tackles with 124. He turned the primary Wildcat and first junior to earn the distinguished Cliff Harris Award and was named a finalist for the coveted Harlon Hill Award. CWU had 4 All-Individuals as Volk earned two totally different Nationwide Defensive Participant of the Yr awards whereas Slade Edwards and Brett McCalla every have been named Honorable Point out All-American with Tyler Flanagan incomes Second Group Educational All-American.
ABOUT THE TOREROS
The Toreros completed the 2023 season with a 4-7 document together with a 4-4 document within the Pioneer League for Head Coach Brandon Moore’s first season with USD. San Diego has already gotten off to a great begin in 2024 incomes a 27-21 victory over in-state rival Cal Poly final Saturday, their first victory over the Mustangs since 2016.
“I hope in sport one we go on the market and have nice ball safety and deal with the soccer,” CWU Head Soccer Coach Chris Fisk mentioned. “Quantity two you hope we have achieved sufficient work right here in fall camp to be an incredible tackling staff, I believe as you go have a look at the groups who performed in week one, these are normally their two largest regrets that you simply go dwelling with is you are struggling the ache of remorse since you did not deal with the soccer and also you did not deal with properly. So, we have labored awfully exhausting throughout fall camp to ensure we’re caring for the soccer, we aren’t turning the ball over. We did not have loads of turnovers offensively in fall camp. Additionally, that we did sufficient work throughout fall camp in tackling and getting ball carriers down, so hopefully after that we will come away saying we improved in these issues together with pre- and post-snap penalties, we wish to try to keep away from these and have unbelievable self-discipline on the day. Hopefully, our guys exit and execute and deal with the sport plan.”
Towards the Mustangs, the Toreros have been led by Grant Sergent who accomplished 15 of 24 passes for 153 yards. Cole Monach was the favourite goal of Sergent’s finishing 5 receptions for 43 yards whereas Ja’appear Reed led the way in which with 56 yards on three receptions. Matt Colombo and Isaiah Smith poured in 88 and 79 dashing yards, respectively as Logan Gingg ran in the one offensive landing for the Toreros compiling two yards.
The San Diego protection stepped up serving to safe the victory for the Toreros as Trey Ortega and Matt Ballentine every had interceptions returned to the home with Eric Haney including a 3rd interception. Jagger Pagano led USD in tackles with six whereas Ruben Lopez, Giovanni Iovino, Ortega, and Haney all added 5 apiece. Iovino was a menace alongside the road incomes three tackles for loss for a lack of 19 yards whereas Chase Lyons and Ortega every added one TFL for two- and three-yard losses, respectively. Haney and Ballentine additionally every added two go breakups. The Torero protection gave up 286 passing yards, however stuffed the Mustangs to solely eight dashing yards.
“We satisfaction ourselves on working the ball, and we satisfaction ourselves on loads of the identical rules that I believe San Diego prides themselves on,” Fisk mentioned. “I believe while you hear the College of San Diego your thoughts would not essentially go straight to nice run protection in soccer, however that is what they’re. They’re constructed the identical means we’re constructed. We’ll should comparable program philosophies matched up this week. We spend every single day to strive to not be in that place to have eight yards dashing, so hopefully we will keep away from that.”
Aidan Lehman additionally served as a serious contributor to the Toreros victory drilling each tried subject targets, one from 35 yards and one from 39 yards. He additionally went three of three on level after landing makes an attempt and had six kickoffs for 389 yards with 5 touchdown as touchbacks. Aydan Corrales completed the night time with six punts for 245 yards with an extended punt of 52 yards. Yosei Takahashi had the only punt return for USD returning it for one yard whereas Kenyon Sims took each kickoff returns for a complete of 60 yards.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will proceed on as street warriors subsequent weekend after they journey to Colorado Mesa for a midday PST showdown on Saturday, Sept. 14 from Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colo.