Community College men’s soccer: OCC to stay on top?

Steve Virgen

The Orange Coast College men’s soccer team’s story of success

started two years ago when the Pirates finished the 1999 season with a

3-14-4 record. Yes, that’s right, they had to hit near rock bottom in

order to fight back.

OCC Coach Laird Hayes saw a need for a change, especially within his

coaching staff. Before last season, Hayes basically promoted assistant

Kevin Smith and gave him more control of the team. Hayes credits most, if

not all, of last year’s success to Smith.

The promotion of Smith and then-assistant Pat Callaghan, who coaches

at Corona del Mar High and Irvine Valley College, resulted in wonders for

the Pirates. They completed an incredible turnaround season (18-4-4) that

ended in the state championship final against rival Santa Ana.

But, the story does not end there. It seems to be just beginning for

the Pirates.

The 2001 men’s soccer team wants to prove last season wasn’t just a

one-year wonder.

“The program is doing nothing but getting better,” said Ian Buchanan,

one of three sophomores who return for the Pirates. “We just get more and

more talent. We definitely have a shot at the state title this year. We

have a lot of talent out of here.”

OCC’s talent has bolstered the defense, which was the Pirates’ strong

suit last year. Last year’s goalkeeper Hilario Arriaga, an Estancia High

product, is gone. Hayes said he left to play soccer in Mexico.

Last year, Arriaga recorded three shutouts in the Orange Empire

Conference and completed an amazing performance in OCC’s huge 3-2 victory

over Santa Ana, snapping the Dons’ 70-game unbeaten streak. He finished

with 14 saves, his last stop coming in the final seconds of the game.

However, OCC’s goalkeeper position has actually improved, Smith said.

Joey Balbas (Edison High) has given Smith confidence.

“He’s big time,” Smith said. “I think he’s worth five (wins). He’s a

big key for us this year. If he reaches his potential he can end up

playing in the MLS. He’s that good. It’s up to him.”

The Pirates’ defense will also be improved because of two returners,

Smith said, in Buchanan and Chris Newcomer. Smith said Newcomer has been

the most improved player from last year to this year.

“Our defense is very solid,” said Smith, who also mentioned Chris

Coburn as a valuable returner. “The question is how quickly we gel as an

attacking team.”

Chemistry, which was a staple of last year’s team, is perhaps the most

important attribute the Pirates are hoping to attain. With rigorous

offseason training and current intense practices the Pirates are slowly

finding that mystique.

They practice so hard that they are told to wear shin guards because

the sessions are like a real game.

“We have some very physical players,” Smith said. “It’s a good idea

anyway to wear the shin guards. We have some guys that play hard all the

time.”

“We’re different from last year’s team,” Smith said. “We had such a

good run last year. You never know what sort of chemistry a team will

have. This team can potentially be as good. We’ll wait and see. We’re

really optimistic and we like what we have.”

The Pirates have freshman Stan Duke (Churchill High, Oregon), who

Smith said is “very fast and good in the air. He’s going to play up front

for us.”

Mike Spahr redshirted last year because of knee surgery. He played

with Buchanan on the Wolfpack soccer club this offseason.

Also, Newport Harbor High product Ryan Hernandez will add speed and

depth to the Pirates as does Costa Mesa High product Marco Santangelo.

Sophomore Sean Ganey transfers from Irvine Valley and his brother,

freshman Joel Ganey, who graduated from Irvine High last year, joins him.

Smith’s brother, Jason, who played for the Pirates 1991 state

championship team, joins the coaching staff as an assistant. He also

coaches for Fountain Valley and, like his older brother, the Wolfpack

club.

Aside from Arriaga’s departure, the Pirates will also be without Chris

Wimmer, who transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Last year’s

sophomores Spencer McDearmon (Cal State Fullerton) and Matt Moseley (UC

Irvine) are playing at Division I schools.

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER

Joey Balbas, goalkeeper Fr.

Ian Buchanan, defender So.

Nestor Castillo, midfielder Fr.

Chris Coburn, midfielder/GK So.

Chance Daniel, midefielder/forward So.

Stan Duke, forward Fr.

Joel Ganey, defender Fr.

Sean Ganey, defender So.

Sal Garcia, midfielder Fr.

Ryan Hernandez, midfielder Fr.

Ryan Lancaster, midfielder, forward Fr.

Weston Langdon, forward So.

Mike Morales, forward Fr.

Chris Newcomer, defender So.

Marco Santangelo, defender Fr.

Mike Spahr, defender Fr.

Evan Watanabe, forward So.

Dante Zena, forward Fr.

Ryan Holt, forward Fr.

Coach: Laird Hayes

Assistant coaches: Kevin Smith and Jason Smith