November 7, 2004. CCAA Championship Game.

Cal State Bakersfield 2, Cal State Dominguez Hills 0.

***

Nine months later, the image lingers. Seventeen wins. Zero losses in conference play. CCAA runner-up for the second-consecutive year.

The 2005 Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team is hungry. Hungry to right the ship that has seen its team falter in the CCAA championship game the last two years. Gone from this team are 2004 seniors Nathan Reeves, Jeff Kunze and Rick Cobb, but returning are a pair of potential All-American forwards in sophomore Kei Kamara, the 2004 CCAA MVP, and senior Francisco Corona, a two-time First-Team All-West Region selection, who look to lead the Toros towards their 5th CCAA Championship in the past seven years.

“We are very stacked at the forward position,” grins head coach Joe Flanagan. “Frank and Kei could be the best 1-2 combination in the country and probably the best ever at Dominguez Hills. Both could be All-American this year, and I don't think there are many programs in the nation that could say that about their two forwards.”

While injury is never welcome, the bug hit CSUDH hard in 2004, taking out senior leaders Reeves and Cobb for a combined 13 games, and with them the backbone of the respective defense and midfield. With each out for extended stretches, most notably Reeves' absence for both the CCAA Tournament and the NCAA Playoffs, the Toros suffered greatly in terms of depth, an issue Flanagan and his staff have dealt with in 2005.

“The injuries to Nathan and Rick hurt us more than any injuries in the past, since it exposed our weakness, which was depth,” explains Flanagan. “This year, we needed to really make sure we were deeper to not be surprised by injuries. But if we had those two, we're a much better team.

“Also, not having Nate and Kunze, who set the tone for the 2004 team by bringing it every day at both practices and games, will be huge,” Flanagan continues. “That'll be the challenge for this team, whether they will follow the returning players who will be this year's leaders.”

Here's a closer look at who will be leading the 2005 men's soccer team:

RETURNERS
Sophomore forward Kei Kamara, voted the CCAA Most Valuable Player of 2004, again will be looked upon to pace the Toros offense in 2005. Coming off a redshirt freshman campaign in which the Lawndale native led the conference with 16 goals, finished 2nd with 42 points and five game-winning goals, and 3rd with 10 assists, Kamara will be a marked man for opposing defenses looking to slow down the vaunted Toro attack.

In addition to being named to the First-Team in both the Far West Region and in the CCAA, Kamara moved into CSUDH's top 10 lists for points (T5th), goals (T6th) and assists (T7th) in a single season. Additionally, entering just his sophomore season, he needs only two goals and five points to break into the Toros top 10 lists for career goals and points.

“We knew we had something special in him last year, but I didn't expect 16 goals and Player of the Year,” Flanagan reflects. “We put him in the captain role this season, hoping that the intensity he brings every day will be very contagious. He's a lot stronger than he looks, can run by people and has a bad taste in his mouth from the way last season ended.”

Providing just as potent a scoring punch will be senior Francisco Corona, the two-time First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-CCAA selection. The Paramount native established the CSUDH record with 18 assists in 2004, which was good for the 5th-highest average in assists per game nationally, and moved into 4th on CSUDH's list for most points in a single season. Ever opportunistic, Corona connected for a CCAA-best eight game-winning goals, and converted on all three penalty kicks attempted. In addition, he led the CCAA in points and assists per game, was 2nd in shots per game and 4th in goals per contest. In a 10-day stretch early in the season, Corona scored two goals each against Concordia (Sept. 9) and Cal State Monterey Bay (Sept. 19), and dished four assists against Cal Poly Pomona (Sept. 14).

“Frankie was really the connector of our team last season,” Flanagan says of his leading assist man. “This year, being a senior and taking what he's learned the past two years about the non-stop, never-say-die attitude college soccer teams have for the entire game, he really wants to go out with a bang. And I think he can tear it up more than Kei because people are going to be so focused on Kei.”

Senior forwards Jason Koza and Edgar Guzman also made their impacts felt last season, combining for nine goals and five assists. Koza started 22 of 23 games played after sitting out the 2003 season due to transfer rules, tying for 20th in the conference for points per game. The Whittier native scored his first goal for the Toros in the season-opener at Seattle University, and notched two of his five assists in the 3-2 win over Sonoma State on Oct. 17. Guzman was a late addition to the Toro roster, but tallied four goals on just eight shots, including the game-winner at cross-town rival Cal State L.A. on Oct. 27.

“Jason has the intangibles of a leader, with a great intensity about him to where he wants to win and isn't scared to challenge people around him,” Flanagan begins about his co-captain. “He's there for the team, but understands that the team goal is to win and that he needs to figure out a way to get it done. That's what Jason's all about.

“Edgar got in good shape and had a good spring by scoring a lot of goals, but it's tough because he's playing behind two potential All-Americans,” Flanagan says about his Long Beach native. “He'll have to be patient, but he'll get some opportunities and is definitely a guy who could win games for us.”

Jesse Graham and Marco Flores solidify the midfield position, giving opponents two additional weapons to guard against. Graham, who earned his first-career All-CCAA honor last season, started 17 of 19 games played, tallying seven goals, eight assists and 22 points. He was amongst the CCAA's best in assists per game (T5th) and goals per game (T7th), having enjoyed a 3-goal, 1-assist performance against Cal Poly Pomona (Sept. 14). Flores found his way into the starting lineup on seven occasions, seeing action in all 23 contests. He scored his first-career collegiate goal at Western Washington in the third game of the season (Aug. 30), and tallied four assists on the year, all against Cal State San Bernardino (two each on Sept. 25 and Oct. 25).

“Jesse had a great sophomore year and has such great attacking ability to be dangerous at any time he wants,” Flanagan says of the San Diego native. “He has great speed coming down the flank and is a guy who can win games for us, plain and simple.

“Marco had the most impact of any freshmen for us for sure, and did very well this spring in his normal position of a center midfielder, using his instincts and his quick short little sprints,” Flanagan says of his Cerritos native. “Marco's got great instincts about where to be and to create and to really be an attacking force, and will be solid for us this year.”

Between the posts, junior Kyle Polak established himself as one of the all-time Toro greats, etching his name amongst the stingiest Toro keepers. In earning Second-Team All-CCAA honors, Polak compiled eight shutouts in 22 games played, boasting a miniscule goal against average of just 0.82. That effort gave him the 4th-lowest single-season GAA in Toro history and, together with his 16 wins and eight shutouts, earned Polak three top-5 places in those respective categories.

“This year we really know what we're getting from Kyle,” Flanagan says of his all-conference goalkeeper. “He's definitely a gamer who reads the game very well, and is a good leader who leads by coming out and doing the things you need to do to be successful. Kyle's nature is to win and want to make other people around him better, and that's why we made him a captain.”

Senior Jaret Minami saw action in only 10 games last season due to injury, starting eight. One of the Toro veterans, however, Flanagan knows Minami will be instrumental in anchoring a defense in which he is the only returning starter, and looks for his senior to continue his competitive style of play.

“When Nathan went down, JT was just nails in the back and probably was, at that point, the MVP of our team,” Flanagan reflects. “JT is a great player and we all know what he's capable of, so if he can just stay healthy, we know he'll be the anchor of our defense, and ready to go when he steps on the field.”

Wilmer Lopez, a junior midfielder who makes his return to the Toros after sitting out last season, was a force for the Toros in 2003. After Lopez's performance in spring 2004 dazzled the coaching staff – “Going into last season, we were predicting Wilmer to be the player of the year,” Flanagan reflects – an injury has delayed Lopez's comeback in 2005, with a return date scheduled for mid-to-late August.

“If he gets back and is 75%, 80% healthy, or more, he's going to be a very good player for us,” Flanagan predicts. “His abilities to break down defenses and create will be unparalleled on our team. Wilmer can do it all, but I'm approaching it as what we get from him is a bonus.”

NEWCOMERS
Chris Clark, Nick Rippeto, Sammy Rivas, Jose Serpas, Brian Richard and Greg Quinones highlight a very strong recruiting class, and look to provide the 2005 Toros with not only all-around depth, but more weapons for the opposition to be concerned with.

Clark, a center/midfielder, and Rippeto, a forward/outside midfielder, both came to the Carson campus after fall semester, and proceeded to wow the coaches during spring practices.

“Chris has great ability to cover the entire field from ball-winning, to distributing, to being a great defensive force, and could be a huge player for us this year,” Flanagan begins, while “Nick is very 'coachable' and someone who fit into all the different systems we played in the spring, playing his role perfectly. He will definitely push Jesse and Wilmer and we think he's going to make an impact.”

Rivas, a Cal State Fullerton transfer, and Serpas, the 2004 Orange Coast Conference Player of the Year, are two “big play” players who understand the game, and whose speed will cause headaches for opposing midfielders and defenders alike.

“Sammy, who will be in the mold of Rick Cobb and Wilmer Lopez, has a great burst of speed and can both set people up and score goals,” Flanagan says, while “Jose has good speed and is a game-breaker. He reads the game very well, can lull people to sleep with his change of pace, and has a good little burst of speed.”

Defensively, Flanagan looks for Quinones and Richard to strengthen a depleted backline, noting each will contribute almost immediately.

“Quinones is 6'1”, a good ball winner, good in the air and definitely a force and presence in the back,” while Richard, whom Flanagan compares to Jeff Kunze, “has a great defensive outlook for the game to where he takes it personally, and is a great athlete who's capable of being a starter.”

THE SCHEDULE
After starting 2004 with a tough northwest road trip, the Toros host Concordia, Western Washington, Vanguard and Seattle Pacific to kick off 2005. Following the two-week stretch, CSUDH begins its conference schedule at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Monterey Bay, before hosting UC San Diego on September 21. Playing at Cal State San Bernardino three days later, the Toros host non-conference foes Grand Canyon (Sept. 26) and Seattle University, the defending NCAA DII Champions (Sept. 30).

The Toros then continue their conference schedule with a road contest at Cal State L.A., before hosting Chico State, Cal State Stanislaus and Cal Poly Pomona from October 7-11. A weekend trip to San Francisco State and Sonoma State ensues, followed by alternating home and away dates, including two against the reigning CCAA Champion Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (Oct. 19, @ CSUB on Oct. 29).

“Our schedule is always one of the toughest, playing the top teams, and that's good for our mental outlook,” Flanagan says, adding, “There are a couple of good rivalries in the conference. It makes the game a little more exciting.”

FINAL THOUGHTS
Flanagan still is agitated when discussing the losses to Cal State Bakersfield, particularly the contest that cost the Toros the CCAA title.

“Bakersfield's always been a good team, but I was surprised that we came out very flat in the first half of the conference finals,” he says, recalling the 'Runners scoring their first goal with just seconds left in the first half, tacking on the final goal late in the second period. “I have respect for their program and they're always going to be competitive, but there should never be a day where Dominguez comes out flat against Bakersfield.”

Coming out flat then, however, should serve the Toros well now, as their goal remains the CCAA Championship.

“We definitely have the talent, but we still have to win games,” Flanagan begins. “You never want to dwell on the past, but hopefully we'll be better from losing, and we're going to focus on getting back to being conference champion again, which is the first thing to shoot for.”

Flanagan knows the Toros have fallen short of their goals the past two seasons, but sees that as simply un-Torolike performances at inopportune times. In fact, Flanagan likes his team's chances, and isn't hesitant in saying so.

“Teams become champions when they do what it takes to win for each other, and I'm looking forward to getting this team on the same page in terms of our chemistry and our ability to work with each other all the time.

“We've got to continually keep shooting for the stars and just play our best and not concern ourselves with who we're playing. We've always tried to concentrate on what we're doing and not what other teams are doing.

“Who has the bulls-eye?” he concludes rhetorically. “I'm approaching the season as we are still the team to beat. We haven't fallen off the radar at all.”