Bye, bye bumps

Observers of Orange Coast College soccer teams next season won’t

have to travel to a new location to watch the team play. But they

will have to shift focus in a slightly different direction.

A slight change to the men’s and women’s field may be in ready to

go when the Pirates begin play next fall.

They won’t be playing at a different site or anything like that

but rather playing on the same patch of grass they currently occupy

(across the parking lot from LeBard Stadium). Next year the teams

will just be running up and down the field in different directions.

Head Coach Barbara Bond said the field will be positioned at an

east-to-west angle instead of its current north-to-south

configuration. The goals will be positioned where the current

sidelines exist.

The field will increase to regulation size (120 yards by 75

yards). OCC’s current field is smaller, measuring roughly 100-by-60

yards, said OCC Athletic Director Fred Hokanson.

Hokanson hopes the field will be ready by the time next season

rolls around and said bids went out this month for a company to

handle the restoration. He did not say how much the project would

cost, only that it would “remain within budget.”

The hope is that rain collecting on the grass will drain easier

and the new grass will give a truer roll to balls traveling on the

turf, Bond said. Hard patches of dirt are found at occasional points

at the current location making for erratic hops at times.

“It’s a lumpy, bumpy field,” Hokanson said. “There’s been nothing

but problems with the irrigation and we want to fix it up for

safety’s sake.”

A fence bordering the field has also been discussed as part of the

project, Hokanson said.

The Coast Community College District approved the field renovation

last year after the item had to go through several school committees.

The reconstruction will be paid for using bond money given by the

state, Hokanson added.

*

Coast’s freshman defensive lineman Jesse Mahelona, who gained team

Most Valuable Player honors at its awards dinner earlier this month

and was selected a state first-team All-American this season, was

candid when asked about his success this season.

Mahelona led the Pirates with nine tackles for a loss and was tied

for the team lead with defensive end Ryan Miller in sacks with six.

When approached with the question Mahelona quickly answered, “I

give all the glory to the Lord above. I also have great teammates. I

couldn’t do what I do if it wasn’t for them. It takes a whole team to

be successful not just one person.”

If last season is any indication, Mahelona will only pick up steam

as he strides into next year ready to dominate opposing offenses yet

again.