Conference champs ready to reload

By Bontã Hill
Staff Writer

City Colleges Men’s Soccer Team finished the season 17-2-4, winning the conference championship for the second season in a row. The Rams also won a tough Hartnell tournament early in the season and were ranked fourth in the nation.

The Rams lost 1-0 in the second round of the state playoffs to Hartnell College in double overtime at Boxer Stadium Nov. 25.

Although the season ended with the Rams falling short of their goal, Assistant Coach Gabriel Saucedo reiterated that the season was a success.

“We wanted to win state badly, but we had a fun, successful season,” Saucedo said. “The team had great chemistry and that was fun to watch.”

With a lot of starters playing in their final season here at City College, the Rams have a plan in place to replace those players: Recruit heavily.

Saucedo also pointed out the focus for the off-season is strength, conditioning, fitness and academics.

“If you don’t have the grades, you can’t play,” Saucedo said. “Academics are just as important as all the other stuff that goes into the program.”

The Rams have a lot of players who were redshirted this season, and should be up to the task of remaining a championship caliber team.

“We have some players coming back who should contribute right away,” Saucedo said. “Soccer is one of those funny games where you could lose 1-0, and be real good team.”

17-2-4 exemplifies a great season, and that’s exactly what the Rams had. Two consecutive conference championships speak for itself.