MEN'S SOCCER SIGNS SEVEN PLAYERS TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
3/7/2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State men’s soccer program unveiled its 2007 signing class, announced today by head coach Michael Linenberger.
The seven-member class includes local products and current high school seniors Alex DeTorres (Elk Grove HS), Chris Cosby (Del Oro HS), and Ernesto Carranza (Oakdale HS). Sacramento State also welcomes four junior college transfers; Omar Martinez, the Coast Conference Defender of the Year out of Cañada JC, as well as Patrick Egloria and brothers Blake and Brady Nunes, who played at Santa Rosa JC, reaching the California state championship match in 2005.
The Hornets enter 2007 having lost nine seniors, including seniors Ryan Rhoads and Oscar Sandoval, the team’s leading scorers the last two seasons. The duo combined for 27 goals and nine assists in 2005 and 2006, so Linenberger and his staff focused their efforts on offensive and attacking-minded recruits.
Beginning with DeTorres, Linenberger believes the versatile player will add to the Hornets depth at several key positions.
“Alex is capable of playing wide in the back or midfield, as well as in the forward line,” Linenberger said. “He can attack and defend using his versatility and quickness.”
DeTorres finished his career at Elk Grove High School earning all-Delta League honors his final two seasons. In 2006, he scored 16 goals for the Thundering Herd, leading the team to a 9-7-2 record under head coach Raymond Harris. DeTorres, who plans on majoring in kinesiology, played his club soccer for the San Juan Lightning last year.
Carranza led Oakdale High School to an appearance in the playoffs after an 18-6-2 overall finish and 10-2-2 league record, good for second place in the Valley Oak League. He finished the season leading the VOL with 30 assists, and his 15 goals ranked third. Seven of those goals, and 18 of the assists were recorded in league play.
“Ernesto will play for us as an attacking midfielder or in the forward line,” Linenberger said. “He is a very clever player, who is tricky and creative on the field. He also possesses one v. one attacking ability.”
Of the high school contingent, Cosby is the only defender. Playing at Del Oro High School in Loomis, Calif., he helped the Golden Eagles finish 2006 with a 10-9-3 overall record and 6-3-3 record in the Sierra Foothill League. He was named first team all-SFL and scored one goal during the season.
He and Carranza both played for the San Juan Thunder, reaching the State Cup finals in 2006.
“Chris is a wide back that adds great speed and can join in the attack,” Linenberger said.
Another defender that brings depth to the back line is Martinez. He was named Coast Conference Defender of the Year after leading Cañada to a 7-2-3 league record and 12-5-4 overall finish, including a playoff berth. Cañada allowed only 28 goals scored, compared to scoring 54 of its own.
“Omar has the ability to play out wide or in the central defense for us next year,” Linenberger said. “He is big, strong and good in the air. Offensively, he can join in the attack as well.”
In recent years under head coach Marty Kinahan, the Santa Rosa JC soccer program has been one of the more prominent teams in the state, and a significant part of the Bear Cubs’ success is Egloria, along with Blake and Brady Nunes. All three played their high school soccer in Hawaii, and will bring speed, quickness and scoring ability to the midfield and forward line.
A starting midfielder, Egloria was named to the 2005 Big 7 all-conference first team after leading Santa Rosa to the state championship match and Big 7 title. Along with Blake and Brady, the trio helped Santa Rosa to a 6-0 conference record and 20-0 overall finish that same year, marking the first time in program history that Santa Rosa went undefeated. The program also finished the year ranked second in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings for Junior College Division III men.
Egloria scored the game winner in the 91st minute against American River JC that year, on his way to a four-goal, nine-assist rookie debut.
“Patrick is a very fast and clever player,” Linenberger said of Egloria, who put away two goals and five assists his sophomore season. “He also excels at attacking in one v. one situations.”
In 2006, Santa Rosa advanced to the third round of the North Region playoffs, suffering a 2-1 loss to Taft and missing out on a second trip to the Final Four.
Egloria played three seasons of varsity soccer at Mililani High School, and graduated in 2004. His senior season, he scored 10 goals, and was named to the Oahu Interscholastic Association West first team, as well as the all-state first team. During his senior season, he led the Trojans to the OIA-West championship, and HHSAA state championship for the fourth consecutive season with a 15-0 record. He was also a Honolulu Advertiser all-state first team selection.
Along with Brady Nunes, he was a four-time Hawaii Snickers State Cup champion, playing with the Hawaii Rush.
At Santa Rosa, Brady may have scored the program’s most critical goal of 2005. Trailing Rio Hondo in the semifinals, Brady scored in the 89th minute to send the game into overtime. The Bear Cubs won the game in OT advanced to the title match.
This past season at Santa Rosa, Brady totaled five goals and eight assists, improving on his three-goal, and two-assist performance from his freshman season. A 2005 graduate of Baldwin High School in Maui, Brady scored 14 goals during his senior year to lead the MIL.
“Brady can play in the central midfield for us, and is a player who can use both feet,” Linenberger said. “He is very smart and a gifted passer.”
Older brother Blake scored six goals and added two assists this season for Santa Rosa.
During his senior season at Baldwin in 2004, Blake was named to the all-state first team. In the 61st minute of the third place state championship game, Blake headed in the game winner in the 61st minute in a 2-1 victory over Kamehameha High School.
“Blake has unlimited potential as a goal scorer,” Linenberger said. “He is strong, fast and has great physical ability.”
Sacramento State ended 2006 on a four-match unbeaten streak with a 7-10-2 overall record. The Hornets took third place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, with a record-tying six players receiving all-conference honors at the end of the year. The team opens its spring season Saturday, March 10 in the annual alumni game, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — 
