Boys soccer: ‘Day’ of recognition

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - There’s a new sheriff in town for the Costa Mesa High

boys soccer team and his name is Eugene Day.

The law of importance for the new Mustangs’ skipper revolves around

the “team” in teamwork.

“We have a lot of guys with good individual ball skills and in the

past, we’ve had a problem with that,” Day said. “This year, I’m laying

down the law and that law is I want the ball to be passed. I want the

ball swinging back and forth across the field. If I can get the players

into that frame of mind, that will give them more options than just

ball-handling.”

With only eight seniors on Day’s 22-player squad, the Mustangs are

young, but it’s those young players that will benefit from Day the most.

Day was the frosh-soph coach for five years and has seen these young

players develop throughout their Mesa careers.

“We have 22 very talented players, which is a good problem to have,”

Day said. “I’m going to switch some players around to try to see them all

play and when league rolls around, I should have an idea as to where I

want players to go.”

The bulk of Mesa’s returning core lies on the defensive side of the

field. Four returning starters, Louis Day, Luis Molina, Zack Powell and

Chasen Marshall, will be looked upon to hold down Mesa’s defensive front.

Offensively, Day is excited about the combination of MIke Gardner and

Trinidad Hernandez, as well as senior Jonathan Contreras.

But, according to Day, the goals will come once the discipline of the

system takes over.

“I’m trying to teach simple soccer,” Day said. “Touch the ball, pass

and move to an open area. This group is in shape and the ones that get to

play have truly earned their positions.”

As for the Pacific Coast League opponents, Day sees the Mustangs among

the top of the pack, despite missing the playoffs a year ago.

“We should finish in the top two of the league,” Day predicted.

“Northwood and University will have tough teams and CdM is always right

there.”

COSTA MESA BOYS SOCCER

00 Francisco Barrera Jr.

2 Stephen Thomas Jr.

3 Chasen Marshall Jr.

4 Louis Day Sr.

5 Luis Molina Sr.

6 Socrates Cruz Jr.

7 Billy Lund Jr.

8 Bernardo Falci Sr.

10 Trinidad Hernandez Sr.

11 Irwin Salas Jr.

12 Luis Bautista Sr.

13 Kevin Alexander Jr.

14 Francisco Arias Sr.

15 Mike Gardiner Jr.

16 David Barnett Fr.

17 Eli Solis Jr.

18 Brian King Jr.

19 Jonathan Contreras Sr.

20 Marco Santangelo Sr.

21 Zack Powell So.

23 Jordan Feldman Jr.

Ryan Denman Jr.

Coach - Eugene Day