Photo by: Sammi Wellman
New Look for CBU as it Opens DI Action
8/22/2018 7:32:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — After graduating 10 seniors, including six starters and three All-Americans, California Baptist University will have a new look to the team as it begins its first year of NCAA Division I and Western Athletic Conference action.
"We had a core of very experienced seniors who played a major role last year," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "While we're less experienced this year, I think we're probably more talented. This is probably the most depth in talent we've ever had, which is natural for Division I, you're getting more high-end athletes."
Of the 26 guys on the roster, 10 are incoming freshmen, with two redshirt-freshmen who were on the team last year but did not compete. The Lancers also welcome five transfers, while returning nine players from last year's team that went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the West Region Championship game.
CBU has an all new group of goalkeepers with two transfers and a freshman, but Michaelson believes it is a good pack with depth and competitiveness. Gage Rogers transferred in from Oregon State and provides the biggest reach, measuring at 6-foot-7. Albert Escuin brings international experience after playing for Huracan Levante U19 of Segunda B Division in Spain and in the youth academy of La Liga's Levante, while freshman Daniel Navarro comes to CBU after a strong club career with the Arsenal Academy.
In the backline, Gabriel Silva returns to the centerback position after grabbing all-conference honors last year and helping CBU boast a program-best fewest goals allowed (12) and most shutouts (11). Nick Forrester, a graduate transfer from the University at Buffalo, joins Silva in leading the back four, while Linus Mansson, a transfer from Northwest Nazarene, offers a different dimension and can get into the attack. Also returning to the defensive mix are Uriel Mosqueda and Joey Scotti, both of whom saw time in the Lancers' backline last year.
Sebastian Wiesbock, who garnered all-conference and all-region honors after scoring three goals and assisting eight times last year, provides experience and a play-making ability for the Lancer midfield. Victor Aguirre and Chris Heckenberg also return to the midfield, with Aguirre providing some extra defense and Heckenberg providing an outlet to get into the attack.
Michaelson also believes Brian Gonzalez – who had to redshirt last year – will play a big role this year, while Matthias Binder and George Ionascu also provide some depth.
While CBU lost its all-time leading scorer in Aidan Apodaca – who is playing professionally for Bethlehem Steele FC – Preston Judd returns for his sophomore season. Last year, Judd scored seven goals and added two assists and comes off a solid spring season.
"Preston is hugely talented and working hard to realize his potential," said Michaelson. "He's still young, like a lot of our roster. We still have work to do and we're trying to put the pieces together of who fits where."
Entering the mix are some talented freshmen in Niklaus Haakenstad, Jerry Ramirez and Oliver Bryneus. Junior Guerra is also back for his senior year and provides all over field depth.
Last year, CBU went on an international tour to Mexico, which provided the Lancers extra time to grow as a team and really develop a solid team chemistry.
"We put a great value on our team chemistry," said Michaelson. "We try to get guys who will be team-first guys and positive influences on team comradery. We want to have the right people who can help us achieve the chemistry we're shooting for."
This year, CBU has just 14 days from its first training session to the first trip to New York. The trip does give CBU an opportunity to spend six days together and try to build the chemistry it's looking for.
"Our first trip is really important to continue to build cohesion and generate confidence to carry us through tight games," said Michaelson. "We can try to fast track chemistry and progress relationships within the group."
Michaelson also knows this year is going to be completely different than last year, where the Lancers dominated most of their opponents, with just a few close games.
"The new reality is every game is going to be difficult," said Michaelson. "How can we respond to setbacks we rarely faced last year? We have a talented group of guys and I'm interested to see how quickly we can turn that talent into results."
CBU gets a chance to answer that question this weekend. The Lancers hit the road for two games to start the season, taking on Saint Peter's on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific and Manhattan College on Monday at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
"We had a core of very experienced seniors who played a major role last year," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "While we're less experienced this year, I think we're probably more talented. This is probably the most depth in talent we've ever had, which is natural for Division I, you're getting more high-end athletes."
Of the 26 guys on the roster, 10 are incoming freshmen, with two redshirt-freshmen who were on the team last year but did not compete. The Lancers also welcome five transfers, while returning nine players from last year's team that went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the West Region Championship game.
CBU has an all new group of goalkeepers with two transfers and a freshman, but Michaelson believes it is a good pack with depth and competitiveness. Gage Rogers transferred in from Oregon State and provides the biggest reach, measuring at 6-foot-7. Albert Escuin brings international experience after playing for Huracan Levante U19 of Segunda B Division in Spain and in the youth academy of La Liga's Levante, while freshman Daniel Navarro comes to CBU after a strong club career with the Arsenal Academy.
In the backline, Gabriel Silva returns to the centerback position after grabbing all-conference honors last year and helping CBU boast a program-best fewest goals allowed (12) and most shutouts (11). Nick Forrester, a graduate transfer from the University at Buffalo, joins Silva in leading the back four, while Linus Mansson, a transfer from Northwest Nazarene, offers a different dimension and can get into the attack. Also returning to the defensive mix are Uriel Mosqueda and Joey Scotti, both of whom saw time in the Lancers' backline last year.
Sebastian Wiesbock, who garnered all-conference and all-region honors after scoring three goals and assisting eight times last year, provides experience and a play-making ability for the Lancer midfield. Victor Aguirre and Chris Heckenberg also return to the midfield, with Aguirre providing some extra defense and Heckenberg providing an outlet to get into the attack.
Michaelson also believes Brian Gonzalez – who had to redshirt last year – will play a big role this year, while Matthias Binder and George Ionascu also provide some depth.
While CBU lost its all-time leading scorer in Aidan Apodaca – who is playing professionally for Bethlehem Steele FC – Preston Judd returns for his sophomore season. Last year, Judd scored seven goals and added two assists and comes off a solid spring season.
"Preston is hugely talented and working hard to realize his potential," said Michaelson. "He's still young, like a lot of our roster. We still have work to do and we're trying to put the pieces together of who fits where."
Entering the mix are some talented freshmen in Niklaus Haakenstad, Jerry Ramirez and Oliver Bryneus. Junior Guerra is also back for his senior year and provides all over field depth.
Last year, CBU went on an international tour to Mexico, which provided the Lancers extra time to grow as a team and really develop a solid team chemistry.
"We put a great value on our team chemistry," said Michaelson. "We try to get guys who will be team-first guys and positive influences on team comradery. We want to have the right people who can help us achieve the chemistry we're shooting for."
This year, CBU has just 14 days from its first training session to the first trip to New York. The trip does give CBU an opportunity to spend six days together and try to build the chemistry it's looking for.
"Our first trip is really important to continue to build cohesion and generate confidence to carry us through tight games," said Michaelson. "We can try to fast track chemistry and progress relationships within the group."
Michaelson also knows this year is going to be completely different than last year, where the Lancers dominated most of their opponents, with just a few close games.
"The new reality is every game is going to be difficult," said Michaelson. "How can we respond to setbacks we rarely faced last year? We have a talented group of guys and I'm interested to see how quickly we can turn that talent into results."
CBU gets a chance to answer that question this weekend. The Lancers hit the road for two games to start the season, taking on Saint Peter's on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific and Manhattan College on Monday at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
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