MPSF CHAMPION MEN'S SOCCER ADDS EIGHT STUDENT ATHLETES FOR 2010-11 SCHOOL YEAR
3/17/2010
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State head men's soccer coach Mike Linenberger has announced the signing of eight students athletes for the 2010-11 season.
"I'm excited to have an incoming class of eight student-athletes to replace our six seniors who helped lead us to the NCAA Tournament last season," coach Linenberger said. "These student-athletes are quality kids on and off the field, and they will help us fill holes so that we can compete for our second straight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title."
Ivan Bustos, a native of Tustin, Calif., spent his final two seasons at Tustin HS after spending his first two seasons at Beckman HS which is also in Tustin. Bustos was a two-time all-Pacific Coast League honoree during his time at Beckman, while also being named the league's offensive player of the year on two occasions. As a senior for the Tillers, he scored 11 goals and added two assists for coach Donal Kennedy. He competes on the club level for Slammers Futbol Club, where he scored three goals and tallied the game winning assist in overtime to give his team the 2009 Surf Cup title.
"Ivan is a target-striker from the forward position, which is something we really didn't have last season," Linenberger said. "He has shown the ability to score big goals, and can be a factor right away for us."
Kasey Cox, from Orangevale, Calif., was a three-year letterwinner for head coach Zach Contreras and the Broncos of Bella Vista HS. Cox excelled as a sophomore, scoring 13 goals and five assists to lead the Broncos. He is no stranger to coach Linenberger, having played under him at the club level for Cal Rush. Cox scored seven goals this past year during the Davis Showcase.
"Kasey is a quality local player who has good speed, and provides a lot of energy and work ethic on the field," Linenberger said. "He is very versatile and can play anywhere from striker to wide-midfielder to outside-back for us."
Erick Lariz is a junior college transfer, coming to the Hornets from American River College in Sacramento. He played in the attacking midfield for the Beavers, scoring four goals and providing seven assists as a sophomore in 2009. The native of Santa Cruz, Calif., prepped at Rio Linda High School in the Sacramento area, combining to score 33 goals and add 44 assists during his final two seasons with the Knights. He earned first team all-Capital Valley Conference honors in both 2006 and 2007.
"Erick is a local guy that we recruited out of high school who wasn't quite ready to play at the four year level," Linenberger said. "He played very well at ARC and is ready to contribute at the Division I level. He is a tall, lanky center-mid who is very creative and good with his feet, similar to Fernando (Cabadas) on our team now."
Chris Sandoval also joins the Hornets from the junior college ranks, having spent the past two seasons at Taft College in Taft, Calif. The younger brother of former Hornet standout and current volunteer assistant coach Oscar Sandoval, he was a first team all-Central Valley Conference selection as a sophomore, scoring 11 goals and adding five assists, earning him second team all-West Region honors. He scored a hat trick against Cosumnes River College, becoming the second player in program history to do so. Sandoval prepped at Littlerock HS in Littlerock, Calif., where he was a first team all-CIF selection for the Lobos.
"Chris showed an ability to score big goals in big games at both the high school and junior college levels," Linenberger said. "He is a quality kid who can play both forward and central midfield for us. We are very excited to have another Sandoval in the program."
Gabriel Silveira will join the Green and Gold from Redwood HS in Larkspur, Calif., where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Giants. Silveira, a native of Corte Madera, Calif., scored 15 goals as a senior, earning first team all-Marin County Athletic League honors. He played club soccer for Marin Futbol Club for four seasons, and also competed in the 2007 Futsal Nationals.
"Gabriel possesses a great deal of speed and one-on-one ability," Linenberger said. "He is an attack-oriented player who is a good crosser of the ball and can play both as a wide midfielder and as a striker for us."
Andre Spencer, a native of Anaheim, Calif., comes to Sacramento State from Servite HS in Anaheim, were he earned all-Orange County as a junior. Spencer helped lead the Friars to 12 shutouts as a senior from his center-back position. He competed at the club level for Pateadores of the Coast Soccer League, where he led his team to four tournament championships in 2009.
"Andre is a big, athletic center-back who will compete to play alongside Diego (Marroquin) and anchor our defense," Linenberger said, "He will add speed along with his size to our back line."
Federico Antonelli and Cesar Castillo will fight for the starting goalkeeping position in the fall, with both coming into the program from strong club programs. Antonelli competes for Slammers Futbol Club, along with fellow recruit Bustos, and led his team to the 2009 Surf Cup championship. A native of Irvine, Calif., Antonelli prepped at University HS while playing for the Slammers, who play in the prestigious Coast Soccer League Premier Division.
"Federico is a solid goalkeeper with good hands," goalkeepers coach Matt McDougall said. "He has a strong playing background, playing in one of the top club leagues in the nation, and also spent some time in Italy training for a couple years."
Castillo competes for Marin Futbol Club and spent a year on the Chivas USA u-18 youth team in 2008. A native of San Rafael, Calif., Castillo was a two-time first team all-Marin County Athletic League selection at Terra Linda HS. He led his team to the finals of the MCAL playoffs by stopping the fifth penalty kick and then converted the fifth penalty to give his team the victory.
"Cesar is a big, athletic kid whose father played professional soccer," McDougall said. "He is a good shot stopper who competed at a high level for Marin FC and for Chivas USA."
The Hornets will open the 2010 season with a pair of home exhibition games before taking on ACC powers North Carolina State and Duke, who coach Linenberger led to the 1986 NCAA title as a player, on the road on Sept. 3 and 5th.
