Rams face new challenges in 2011

By Ryan Kuhn
The Guardsman

Women’s soccer steps onto their brand new soccer field for the 2011 season as they call themselves the Coast Conference champions from one year ago.

But their coach, Gabe Saucedo, looks at this season differently, saying that this is a new year.

“We haven’t done anything this year,” Saucedo said, as he watches his team during their first 11 versus 11 inter-squad scrimmage. “Right now, that conference championship is up for grabs and I’m not looking at it as if we are defending anything. If you think about defending something then you are on your heels.”

Last year, the Rams turned their program completely around as they finished 17-2-4, more than tripling the amount of wins from 2009.

Although they lost in the second round of the playoffs to Fresno City College, Saucedo learned a lot about his team from last season.

“I think the most important thing that I learned last year was team chemistry can take you a long way,” he said. “We played against some teams that were more skilled than us at a lot of positions but our chemistry was so good, we cared so much about each other that it mades us play really hard.”

The Rams not only flourished with chemistry but also had nine players last year nominated for the All-Coast Conference team. Key returning players include now sophomore Tera Piserchio who led the team with 18 goals and Alex Montano who was second on the team with 11 goals.

With a new recruiting class, the program also introduces two new assistant coaches. Saucedo said both Ivan Bandov and Chris King bring experience, enthusiasm, good soccer knowledge to the program.

City College has their first game on Aug. 25 as they will face Div II San Francisco State in a scrimmage at 3:30 p.m.

The Gators won their conference last year and Saucedo is up for the challenge.

“We are really excited about playing SF State,” he said. “They are going to be fast and physical by moving the ball well but it will give us a good indicator on where we are as a team.”