It's going to be another down-to-the-wire finish for the 2022 men's soccer season for the Orange Empire Conference, thanks to a deep and talented lineup of teams up and down the standings.
Several teams have gotten off to strong starts for this season and if that stellar play continues, look for a wild and crazy finish down the stretch with playoff berths and OEC bragging rights on the line.
In alphabetical order, here is a breakdown of each team as they prepare for Orange Empire Conference play next week.
CYPRESS (2-1-2) – It's been a strong start to the 2022 season for the Chargers, dropping just one match in their first five contests, including back-to-back victories over Citrus (2-0) and East Los Angeles (1-0). Cypress is kicking off stretch of six matches on the road so this upcoming couple of weeks will be a big measuring stick for how the Chargers fare throughout the remainder of the season.
Sophomore Braulio Morales has a team-best five points (2 goals, 1 assist) through the first five contests, while teammates Oliver Meza, Raymond Ramirez, Jesus Sanchez and Rafay Shafigue have each found the back of the net.
Goalie Alex Felix and the Charger defensive corps have done an outstanding job thus far, allowing just four goals through the first five matches.
FULLERTON (3-3-1) – After a couple of tough losses to start the season, the Fullerton College Hornets have righted the ship with a 3-1-1 stretch, including W's over Canada (2-1) and Santa Rosa (2-0).
Freshman forward Misael Gonzalez is off to a strong start for the Hornets with a team-best four goals and eight points, while sophomores Joseph Espinoza and Sergio Ibarra each have a goal and an assist.
Goalkeeper Jose Estrada has played the majority of action for the Hornets, allowing just five goals with 12 saves in four contests, posting a 1.25 GAA along the way.
IRVINE VALLEY (4-3-0) – The Lasers started 2022 on the wrong foot, dropping three straight, only to bounce back and rip off four wins in a row to get back over the .500 mark. The Lasers have outscored their opponents, 13-2, over that four-win span with three shutout wins over Rio Hondo (2-0), L.A. Harbor (3-0) and San Diego Mesa (1-0).
Freshman forward Grant Miller has found the back of the net three times and dished off two assists for a team-best eight points, while sophomore midfielder Julian Svoboda has a team-best three assists to go along with a goal of his own for five points.
Freshman goalkeeper Tygo Steenvoorden has been lights out for the Lasers with 13 saves, three shutouts and a goals-against of 0.67.
GOLDEN WEST (2-1-3) – Another year, another strong start for the Rustlers (co-champions of the OEC last year with Santa Ana), in spite of a 4-0 setback on Friday at Cerritos to snap their five-match unbeaten run to start things off.
GWC has been led early on this year by the freshmen trio of Weldin Florian (1 goal, 4 assists, 6 points), Anthony Lopez (3 goals, 6 points) and Francisco Vieira (2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points), while sophomore Diego Useda is close behind with five points (2G, 1 A).
Freshman GK Daniel Barragan has been the No. 1 guy as GWC's last resort on defense with 40 saves and a solid 1.67 GAA in five matches played this year.
ORANGE COAST (2-5) – It's been a rough go in 2022 for the Pirates against a tough nonconference schedule, but a hard-fought 1-0 win at Southwestern will hopefully give OCC some momentum heading into OEC play.
Five different OCC players – Carlos Alcantara, Steven Garcia, Greyson Marquez, Sebastian Miller and Edison Ramirez have scored goals for the Pirates, while Armand Pigeon has a team-best two assists.
In goal, Collin Macha has played every minute between the pipes for OCC and has a 2.71 GAA with 41 saves, including one shutout.
SANTA ANA (4-2-2) – The 2021 OEC co-champs with Golden West look to be gearing up for another deep run towards first place with wins in three of their past four matches, including a 5-1 rout over L.A. Harbor and a 4-1 triumph over L.A. Mission.
SAC's leading goal scorers thus far in 2022 have been sophomore forward Josue Martinez and Gilbert Gomez, who each have three, while Jesse Mancilla has been the table-setter with a team-best three assists. Twelve different Dons have found the back of the net already this year.
In goal, Santa Ana's tandem of Jorge Cortes and James Martinez have combined for 30 saves and a 1.38 GAA in 2022.
SANTIAGO CANYON (4-1) – The Hawks are flying high during the early portion of the 2022 season with a solid 4-1 mark, including wins over East L.A. (3-0), San Diego City (1-0), San Diego Mesa (1-0) and Imperial Valley (7-1).
Stats are not complete for SCC, but in last week's 7-1 rout over Imperial Valley, Matt Corson had three goals, while solo tallies were turned in by Scott McIntosh, Dylan Saba, Bryce Allen and Luis Sanchez-Diaz.
Goalkeeper Jose Lopez had four saves and allowed just one goal in the win. The SCC goalkeeper has 22 saves and a 1.00 GAA through four of the five matches thus far in 2022.
Release by Tony Altobelli