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Men's Soccer 2010 Preview: The Quest Continues

Team captains (L-R) Greg Piechota, Markus Dickerson and Diego Turoldo give the Toros a lethal attack on all sides of the pitch
CARSON -- Losing the two-time reigning NSCAA Player of the Year as well as a two-time All-American would prove a daunting task for any collegiate soccer program, and while that will apply to this year's Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team and defending CCAA Champion to some degree, the outlook for 2010 has become much more optimistic heading into Thursday's season opener.

Led by CCAA Newcomer of the Year in freshman keeper Markus Dickerson, a stacked frontline and midfield anchored by Greg Piechota and Alex Munoz, and a Chris Lopez-led defense which includes newcomers who have emerged during preseason, head coach Joe Flanagan feels confident he and his coaches can mold this team into a championship-caliber squad and, with seven freshmen on the active roster, continue the program's current success well into the decade.

Despite falling 1-0 in the 2009 NCAA quarterfinals to eventual NCAA Champion Fort Lewis, the same Skyhawks who took CSUDH out of the NCAA quarters en route to the title four years earlier, Flanagan knows the Toros were thisclose to making a return appearance to the Final Four, and thinks he has the pieces in place this season to do just that.

“The game we lost was a good game and both teams deserved to win,” he reflects, with the 2010 campaign on the horizon.  “But we know we have to be ready for every game and can't just show up and win on reputation, and I think we have the talent to do that a lot this year.”

Here's a preview at who will look to bring the Toros their third NCAA title, and second in the past three seasons:
RETURNERS

The forward and midfield positions will be very good this year, led by a quintet of returners with two west region titles, two CCAA crowns and an NCAA championship under their belts.

Greg Piechota returns to Carson for his junior season after leading the Toros in goals scored.  The San Diego native earned NSCAA 3rd-team All-Region and CCAA All-Tournament Team honors and notched his first-career hat trick in 3-0 win at CS East Bay, finishing tied for 5th in goals and 7th in points in the CCAA.  He also enjoyed his second multi-goal effort in 3-0 win over rival Sonoma State in NCAA West Region semifinal, both coming on set-piece pin-point headers, and as co-captain, will be called on for more of the same.

“Greg's got the ability to do it all,” says Flanagan with a smile.  “He has good hops and great timing, and he beats guys who are bigger and taller than him to the ball with his timing.  When he started to score, he got a taste of it, kept wanting more, and it seemed like he wanted to put the team on his shoulders a bit and wanted to take that role.  And when you have someone who wants to take on that role, it's nice to have.”

A late addition to last year's squad, senior Alex Munoz solidified his position as one of the better midfielders in the league and region, earning NSCAA 3rd-team All-Region and honorable mention All-CCAA honors in his first season in Carson, starting the final 16 games of the 20 played after playing in his first game in mid-September.  Making an immediate impact, he tallied 2 goals and 4 assists, with both scores accounting for game-winners.

“Alex is a phenomenal player, and when he gets the ball, you just can't take it away from him,” beams Flanagan.  “He bounces off people, he bumps them, they fall over and he keeps on dribbling and before you know it, the ball's in the back of the net, and he just kind of smiles and laughs. 

“With the talent around him, you just can't focus on him specifically, so when he goes one-on-one, he's going to win that battle 6, 7, 8 times out of 10, and I'll take that any day of the week.  And he's just one of those guys who makes others around him better with his skill, his passing ability, and understanding of the game.

Sophomore striker Andre Turoldo makes his return to the squad, and is looking for big things after a great spring season.  The 2007 and 2008 Daily Breeze Player of the Year, he saw action in 15 games off the bench and established himself as one of the speediest players in the league, notching his first collegiate goal in a 4-0 win over CS San Marcos on September 1.

“Andre had a great spring season playing with the Galaxy U22 team, and did very well for them,” says Flanagan.

Senior defender/midfielder Scott Locken concludes his Toro career looking to continue where he left off after making 6 starts and seeing action in all 25 games played, and will take on a bigger role with the departure of All-American Andrew Marinez, who led the team in points last year.  “We can run things through Scott, and he has the dangerous qualities to take on that role as a midfielder.”

A returner who didn't compete in 2009, Jordan Rover makes his return back to Carson with his 2008 NCAA Title ring in tow after making 5 starts in 24 games for the champions.  His final 3 goals of the season came in the NCAA Far West title game, the quarterfinal and in the semifinal overtime thriller over host Tampa, and his presence and experience will make the attack that much more lethal.

Flanked by two stellar defenders last season, defender Chris Lopez established himself as a force by his continual improvement, and is a key to the newly-formed backline this season.

"The thing about Chris is that he continually improves," begins Flanagan.  "He came in last year as a walk-on and ended up being a starter.  He is very intense and has great determination, and that's what sets him apart.  He's done well in the three scrimmages and I expect him to be a force this year."

Anchoring the returning players is keeper Dickerson, who currently sits in 2nd in the Toro record books for wins, 3rd in shutouts and 5th in goals against average in a single season after just one year in the books.

In 2009, the Beaumont native emerged as one of the top keepers in the nation, earning NSCAA 1st-team All-Region, Daktronics 2nd-team All-Region, the CCAA Newcomer of the Year and 2nd-team All-CCAA honors after finishing 2009 tops in the league in GAA and shutouts, and 3rd in save percentage, good for 17th in GAA and 21st in save percentage nationally.

“With the addition of our keepers coach in Mike Littman, we recognized Markus' potential, and no one has more potential than Markus,” Flanagan begins.

“He has the prototype goalkeeper body and frame, and he has the work ethic and wants to train and get better.  He's like a sponge, and became a great goalkeeper quicker than I thought after becoming an All-Region keeper as a freshman, which just doesn't happen.  And that was a huge testament to both Mike and Markus for all their hard work.

“Now he has a taste of his own quarterfinal run last year, and as one of our captains, he wants to make that run for his own team, but may get tested a bit more without having that experienced defense in front of him.”
THE LONE RANGER

Senior Diego Turoldo embarks on his fourth and final season in Cardinal and Gold, and is the lone Toro able to make that claim.  Beginning his career with just one start as a freshman, he made 21 starts in 25 games played last year, earning a team captain moniker in his farewell campaign.

Although he scored just one goal with two assists, his intangibles and refusal to lose make the Torrance native a key piece to the Toro puzzle if CSUDH hopes to again travel deep into the postseason.

“Diego came to us as this scrappy little kid, and he's worked himself into becoming an attacking player you can really play through,” says Flanagan.  “He can really spray the ball around and get people involved, and he just possesses some intangibles you can't coach. 

“He just doesn't like to lose.  He doesn't accept it, he won't accept it, and that will of his is important for our success.”
NEWCOMERS

A definite feather in this season's cap is the 2010 recruiting class, summed up by Flanagan as “probably our best recruiting class we've ever had.”  We have about 10 freshmen and 3 JC transfers, and if a couple of these guys step in and make an immediate impact, we'll have a good year.  But I know the future's going to be huge because of the class we brought in.”

Three of the freshmen in Jordan Hatanaka, Wyatt Stucker and Austin Nate have stood out the most thus far, with Flanagan noting that Hatanaka “seems to be ready to make an impact.  He's come here to compete and play.”

Another redshirt in freshman midfield Miguel Vasquez gives the Toros another quality controller, who's good enough to finish.  “There were some parts of the season in practice last year when he just ran by people, so he's going to do some things for us.  Again he's a freshman, but he has a year of experience as a redshirt so we are expecting good things from him.”

Losing two staunch defenders in Gallaugher and Marco Pulido, whom Flanagan says was probably the Toros' best consistent defender from games 1 through 25, creates a huge hole in the backfield, but CSUDH feels good about who they have, especially in junior Miguel Vargas, who redshirted last season.

“You couldn't ask for a better replacement than Miguel; he's from the exact same mold and almost a carbon copy,” Flanagan begins.  “He's hard-working, fast, extremely competitive, can run all day and knows the system, but still, it'll be his first year playing so we'll have to see how it works out.

Chaffey transfer Ernie Ramos looks to fill in the hole where Gallaugher departed, and seems to be a good fit early on.  “He is physically strong and has all the qualities, but we'll have to wait and see if he can make other players around him better like Kevin did.  Kevin was obviously a good player, but he made others around him better as well, and that's the quality I don't know can be replaced right now.  Ernie is the big piece, though, because of the need in the center back position.”
FINAL THOUGHTS

Having the luxury of a multitude of returners gracing the pitch at Toro Stadium, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team has a different luxury this year, welcoming a multitude of newcomers.

With the start of the season less than 24 hours away, head coach Joe Flanagan relishes the challenge of what this team will become.

"Molding this team into a team is what I'm looking forward to the most," he says.  "We're going to have to be on our toes to find out what works.  We think we have the people there, but now it's going to be up to the individuals to step up and make it their own positions.

"But like I stated from the start, I'm looking forward to our attack.  It should be very good."
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