Men’s soccer: Pirates get busy

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The Orange Coast College men’s soccer team made sure

that what happened last year would not happen again.

They used foot power and serious people skills to sell the OCC program

to soon-to-be high school graduates and the hard work paid off.

The intensified recruiting blitz over the spring resulted in a mass

contingent of players for this year’s tryouts.

“We recruited our tails off this year and we were very fortunate to

have some key players come our way,” Coach Laird Hayes said. “In fact we

even had to turn about 15 players away at the start of the season. Last

year we would have rolled out the red carpet for them.”

With the high number of player participation comes the fear of being

eliminated from the Pirates’ program during preseason practices, a fear

that is working in OCC’s favor.

“So far, our practices have been intense and extremely competitive,”

Hayes said. “This is the first year I can remember where we’ve had every

player show up for every practice. They know that if they miss a

practice, that could be it for them.”

After suffering through a 3-14-4 season last year, Hayes and assistant

coaches Kevin Smith and Pat Callaghan raised the level of Pirates’

expectations and so far, Hayes is happy with what he’s seen.

“The attitude and intensity that these guys are putting into

everything they do reminds me of our championship teams in the late 80s

and early 90s,” Hayes said. “It’s a real kick to see.”

Leading the Pirates’ offense is returning second-team, All-Orange

Empire Conference selection Gino Vitale-Sansosti.

Despite playing half the season as the Bucs’ goalkeeper,

Vitale-Sansosti led the club in goals with four.

“He’s an outstanding player and he’ll be a major factor in our

offense,” Hayes said.

Hayes has been very pleased with the offensive play of freshmen Aaron

Siemers as well as Estancia High product Cesar Terrones.

Siemers was an All-Sunset League selection for Edison High, while

Terrones helped lead the Eagles to the CIF Southern Section Division IV

title a year ago with 34 goals.

“Both of these guys have tremendous skills,” Hayes said. “We’ve got

forwards who can really run and put the ball in the net.”

Terrones’ teammate at Estancia, Hilario Arriaga, will be asked to take

over the goalkeeper duties, following the departure of Carlos Loza.

Freshman Chris Coburn will back up Arriaga.

One major difference between last year and this year is depth of

goalkeeping. “When Carlos went down with an injury, we had nobody to back

him up,” Hayes said. “This year, we have two solid keepers and if one

goes down, we can insert the other.”

Sophomores Chris Carvin, John Gump and Spencer McDearmon lead an

experienced and talented defense.

“Spencer is lightning fast and has a great head on his shoulders,”

Hayes said. “John has conditioned himself all season long and he’s bigger

and faster than ever before. Mike has played all spring and summer and

he’s ready for the long haul.”

So with all the excitement within the men’s soccer program, how does

Hayes see his club among the rest of the OEC?

“I have no idea what the rest of the conference is like,” he admitted.

“All I do know is that we have some players with some serious drive and

determination. We’re deep, we’re strong and we’re ready to go.”

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER

0 Chris Coburn Fr.

1 Hilario Arriaga Fr.

2 Aaron Siemers Fr.

3 Chris WImmer Fr.

4 Billy Pena Fr.

5 John Gump So.

6 Spencer McDearmon So.

7 Edson Anaya Fr.

8 Dan Espinoza So.

9 Matt Moseley So.

10 Geno Vitale-Sansosti So.

11 Chance Daniel Fr.

12 Ian Buchanan Fr.

13 Jesus Cervantes Fr.

14 Andrew Mizell Fr.

15 Josh Miller So.

16 Mike Carvin So.

17 Miguel Ruiz Fr.

18 Chris Newcomer Fr.

19 Matt Desmond Fr.

20 Silvio Alderete Fr.

21 Cesar Terrones Fr.

Coach - Laird Hayes