Men's Soccer: 2016 season in review

Men's Soccer: 2016 season in review
Posted: Dec 22, 2016

2016 End of Season Report

            The SRJC's Men's soccer team started the 2016 season with an August 26th trip to Oxnard, CA to challenge the 2015 California State Champions at home. This was also a great opportunity to define our 2016 season goals. The team spent two days in Oxnard and came away with specific team and individual goals for the season and became a more cohesive group. The contest was a great test early to see how we compared to the best team in California. The game was a 0-0 draw at half time and we took the lead early into the second half. Oxnard was able to rally for a late goal in the 80th minute and the game ended in a tie. We concluded our trip with an ocean swim before the long bus ride back to NorCal.

The camaraderie carried onto the field for the season, we were dominant in the Big Eight Conference and compiled a 9-0-1 record, scoring 25 goals while allowing 7 and an overall record of 16-1-2.  On November 4th the team travelled to majestic Yosemite, for an overnight trip before the final season push. We spent the Friday night in Groveland and Saturday planned on a hike in the valley. Our plans were interrupted because of unforeseen mechanical issue on the bus, which left us stranded on the side of the road between Buck Meadows and Yosemite Valley. This could have been a real negative experience but the players along with some encouragement, (which at the time may have sounded like an ultimatum from their coach) decided to make this an adventure. We started our seven mile hike back to Buck Meadows to wait for the new bus being driven up from the bay area. The hike gave us perspective on the ridge you cannot see from a vehicle. We also stopped at Rainbow falls and a few of us swam in the frigid water. The trip much like our season took some turns but this group of young men never complained, (that I heard) and persevered. We experienced a hike I can say with confidence none of us will ever do again while cementing some lifetime memories. More than 24 players had never been to Yosemite or Buck Meadows previous to this trip. The bus arrived and we had a lively ride back to Santa Rosa with no one sleeping just talking and laughing.

We finished the season as the fourth seed in Northern California earning us home field advantage. We hosted Clovis College in the first round and lost 4-3 in overtime. We were forced to play a man down for 50 minutes after receiving a deserved red card in the 70th minute when we were up 2-1. The loss was disappointing and we all had higher expectations for our season, but we had a lot to be thankful for and to celebrate. The team is graduating 6 sophomores and all 6 are looking to continue to play soccer. We are returning a strong freshmen class and excited for the 2017 season.

2016 Big 8 Conference Champions 5th Consecutive Year

Final Overall Record: 16-2-2   Big Eight Conference Record: 9-0-1  NSCAA NATIONAL Ranking 12th

NSCAA Scholar All-American

Academic All Big 8

SRJC CAPTAINS

SRJC MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

1st Team All-Conference Big 8

2nd Team All-Conference Big 8

Big 8 Players of the Year

NSCAA Far West Region Second Team

Six Players Moving on to four Year Schools

CALIFORNIA ALL-STATE TEAM

CALIFORNIA ALL-NORTH TEAM

Golden Boot Award

Blue Collar Award

Danny Bree Award

Ken Wipf Award

Utility Award

  • Sam Richter (North Kingstown)

John Mooney Award

  • Gabriel Silva (E.E. Mousenhor J.P)

Goal of The Year

Red Shirts of the Year

  • Jed
  • Goose