Zodiac Shoots for a Fresh Beginning

IRVINE —  The Orange County Zodiac professional soccer team is taking a mulligan. Though mulligan is a golfing term for a do-over, it accurately describes the Zodiac’s approach to its second season, which begins against San Diego at 7:30 tonight at UC Irvine’s Anteater Field.

Only five players remain from the final 1997 roster: leading scorer Gustavo Leal, midfielders Juan Guerrero and Brad Wilson and defenders Orlando Perez and Tayt Ianni. One of last year’s goalkeepers, Mike Gartlan, has replaced Tony Cerna as the coach and UCI replaces Santa Ana Stadium as the home venue. Even the uniforms are new. Last year’s blue jerseys and blue shorts have given way to blue- and black-striped jerseys with black shorts and black socks.

Nearly every reminder of last year’s Zodiac, which went 11-17 and finished fifth in the A-League’s Pacific Division, has been discarded.

“If it was run the same way as last year, [owner] John [Frankhouse] didn’t know if he wanted to keep the team,” Gartlan said. “We took our lumps last year. We wanted to change a lot of things, make this more of a serious atmosphere.”

Gartlan didn’t mean to imply that last year’s team was a joke, but he admits it wasn’t taken seriously by the rest of the league or by fans.

“Last year’s team didn’t know what to expect going into a new league,” he said. “We had a lot of young players and we didn’t identify with the community. People would say, ‘The Zodiac, that sounds familiar, but what is it?’ ”

The Zodiac’s average attendance was slightly more than 1,200 last season, but that average was helped by the 4,500 fans the team drew for its preseason exhibition game against the Zodiac’s parent club, the Galaxy. Gartlan said a more accurate average was probably closer to 800, and he said that figure was often enhanced by complementary tickets.

Gartlan said this year’s team will be “all of Orange County’s.” All but three of the 20 players on the 1998 team have county ties, and two of those three are from Southern California.

“We wanted to put together a team the county could identify with,” Gartlan said. “Kids can look at them and say they are where I was. If you can’t relate to anyone, you’re not going to support a team as much.”

Gartlan says moving south to Irvine will increase the team’s visibility throughout the county.

“From a player’s standpoint, you didn’t feel the support last year in Santa Ana,” he said. “That was partly our fault. We weren’t in the community as much.”

That will change this year. Gartlan said his team will be much more visible at AYSO functions and other community activities.

“With the [indoor soccer] Splash gone, the outdoor game is where this sport’s going,” Gartlan said. “Indoor soccer is like a rock concert, but it’s not the true sport. We want to make this like Triple-A baseball.

“The reality is that people from Orange County are not going to go to a Galaxy game. It’s an all-day event. So we want to make this an attractive event and give people a high level of soccer.”

Fans will be asked to pay more for that higher level of soccer. Last year’s $6 adult seat is now $7. Children under 10, seniors and military will pay $5, a dollar more than last year. Gartlan said he hopes the Zodiac can average more than 1,000 fans, but he realizes the local players will have to do more than show up.

“The bottom line is these local guys will have to be able to play,” Gartlan said. “The owner brought these guys here to win. This team, if things go well, could challenge for a conference title.”

Seven of the Zodiac’s 20 players have MLS experience--midfielders Eddie Soto, Wilson and Mario Sanchez, defenders Ken Hesse, Ianni and Peter Lak and forward Steve Patterson.

Wilson, a former Cal State Fullerton star who was recently cut by the Chicago Fire of MLS, is one of the key acquisitions. He finished last season with the Zodiac after being released by the Galaxy, but Gartlan said having him on the team from the beginning should make a difference.

“That was the player we were missing,” Gartlan said. “He’s the one who can take us to the next level.”

Last year, the Zodiac lost five players to the MLS during the season. Gartlan said he predicts more players will be called up this year.

“It helps us with getting players,” he said. “If they see we can get players into the MLS, they’ll want to come out and play for us.”