The Chico State men's soccer team is off to a 3-1 start under second-year Head Coach Felipe Restrepo. The cats were the surprise of the CCAA last season, but won't be sneaking up on anyone in 2009.
Last year, in his first season as Head Coach of the Chico State men's soccer team, Felipe Restrepo steered the Wildcats to an impressive 13-5-1 record. Now the upstart squad from a year ago wants to build on that success.
Wildcats Goalkeeper Michael Keohane says, "obviously our expectations are high, we have a more talented group than we have ever had in the history of the program since I'm concerned and I think our main goal right now is to dominate our conference."
With eight starters returning, the Wildcats are certainly a conference contender and the CCAA preseason coaches poll predicts them to finish 2nd in the North division behind Sonoma State. If they continue to put in the proper amount of work, Restrepo feels like his team and program is just tipping the iceberg of the success they could obtain.
Felipe Restrepo says, "all I can say is my team is working hard. They're working to improve every day, we're becoming a better team every week through every game and so the hope is that we get better."
This season, the Cats expect to play a different syle of ball given the departed personnel from last year's team. Leading scorer Zac Crim gone which means Chico State will play a more tactical game as opposed to the strong attacking club in 2008.
Wildcats Forward Evan Armstrong says, "our strategy is a little bit different, we're trying to play the forward's feet a little bit more and work through the midfield."
Keohane adds, "we have a good defensive group, we're losing one senior in the back, but the spot has been filled, it's a little different tactically we try to keep the ball around the back a little more, we have a lot of speed up top so any chance we have an entry ball to play to the top and let our strikers run onto it we're gonna do that."
With a 3-1 record, the Cats are already playing good soccer and with the bullseye on their chest this season, it will be interesting to see how this underdog team from a year ago responds to being a conference favorite in 2009.
