Delta’s men’s soccer team opened the season after months of practice and is committed to place itself high as it has done so in past seasons.
The start of the season has been rough for the Mustangs as some players still aren’t able to play.
“We’ve had several eligibility issues and are missing a couple of players who still have forms to fill out before they can compete,” said head coach Joshua Bradley. “Pretty much that’s what’s been the trend during the summer, we expect to have more of them ready in the next several weeks.”
The team seeks to improve its placement from last season when it made the Elite 8 and was close to reaching the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship tournament.
The Mustangs will compete with a very young squad this year as there are few returning players from the 2019 season.
“We didn’t have that many guys from last season return, we’ve only got a couple of sophomores on this roster, the rest of them are all freshmen,” said Bradley.
Midfielder Ignacio Flores is among the returning sophomores who will also play a leadership role as the team’s captain.
Bradley is glad to have him and the other sophomores on the roster as he’s sure they will help guide the younger players this season.
“It’s nice to have them stick around for this season. We have Ignacio who is our captain as well as the other sophomores who are greatly supporting this team and will serve as leaders for the freshmen players on the field,” he said.
Flores thinks his teammates need to do better with working collectively on the field, but also sees the potential for the team to perform at a high level.
“We need to improve on our discipline and communication,” said Flores. “This is a new team, new season with great players capable of taking this team far if we do things right.”
He also points out that the effort put in by all the players is the team’s most valuable characteristic.
“We’ve got a lot of resiliency and I think that’s the best thing this team has. Even when we’re down on the score, we never stop fighting,”
Midfielder Mathew Salas and forward Jose Avalos are some of the most notable players coming into this season.
Salas is a returning sophomore who was a key player for the team during the playoffs in 2019, in which he scored goals in every game.
Avalos is among the freshmen to watch for the season as he will play an important role in generating goals for the team.
Midfielder Luis Sandoval is sure this team can improve as the season progresses
“It’s a process when it comes to forming a team,” said Sandoval. “It’ll take us a while to improve, more when you’ve got a lot of new players. We’ve got a couple of things to work on but I know we can improve.”
Sandoval also stated that he is glad to once again play a full season after the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt in 2020.
“It feels good to play again. Soccer is a passion for us, and to get back on the field and play again is such a great feeling.”
The men’s soccer team is scheduled to play against Fresno City on Sept. 28 before making its conference debut on Oct. 1 against Modesto.