While the CSUEB men’s soccer team finished last season with a 5-8-5 record, the coach and team believes their record does not properly reflect how their season truly went.

“We were in a lot of games last season,” said Head Coach Andy Cumbo who saw his team lose only four games by just one goal. “Last year was a really positive year for us, we were competitive in just about every match. We beat some teams in the conference and more importantly tied a lot.”

The team’s offense only mustered 17 goals all season. This ranks the Pioneers ninth out of the 12 teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

“We struggled last year at executing our opportunities in front of the goal,” said Cumbo. “We continually made progress in that area but that was one of the challenges for last year. So in terms of building for this year we spent a lot of time in the off-season working on our offense. From a recruiting standpoint we spent a great deal of time and effort looking for and bringing in players that were a little bit attacking minded.”

“We have really good, talented attacking players and they just need to find the back of the net and score consistently,” said senior defenseman Paul Dewhurst who helped contribute to his team winning all three of their preseason games. “This preseason they have done that. So if we can continue to do that we will be good to go.”

One of the most important aspects to this team’s success last year and going forward is their defense that shutout or only allowed one goal 13 times out of 18 total matches.

“Last year’s teams we were very hard working, disciplined defensively,” said Cumbo. “Very stingy defensively and overall as a team we had a really good commitment to not concede goals.”

On August 23, the CCAA Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll came out which had the Pioneers slated to finish fourth out of six teams in the Northern Division.

When it comes to the preseason poll, Cumbo looks past it and tries to focus on what his team does and not what coaches think of his team.

“I don’t think it effects my team at all,” said Cumbo. “When it comes down to it we don’t worry about it very much at all. I think it’s really important to lay out what we have and then build the expectations from that. I think my players internally motivated and know that they are pretty good. They are looking forward to getting the season going.”

Going into the upcoming season, the Pioneers have a large majority of last season’s team returning with 18 upperclassmen on the roster. The chemistry of the team is a characteristic of this team that should play a large role during the season.

Since their season ended last October, the men’s soccer team practiced and trained for their upcoming season which starts tomorrow, with hopes this upcoming season will be one to remember.

“Our team camaraderie, our relationships with one another, our commitment to each other is very solid in terms of what players we have returning to this team this year,” said Cumbo. “The one nice thing is we continue to move forward with this program and we are starting to get players that are seniors that started their career here and they understand what is expected and the tradition that we are building.”

One of those seniors who started their career here is Dewhurst who has seen this team grow and believes that this specific team could be special.

“I have been with this program through the lows but I feel as though with the returning players and with the incoming talent we have, I feel like we can realistically get one of the top spots in the Northern Division for the CCAA,” said Dewhurst. “Being in one of those top spots we will be competing for a conference championship. We have a legitimate chance to win a conference championship and it’s exciting.”

One of the players who should play a large role in the success of this team is Bryce Bookhammer, a senior goalkeeper.

“He is very familiar with the team and a positive leader, very competitive,” said Cumbo. He is going to be a key player for us.”

Rey Suarez and Javier Martin who were two of the three leaders in goals last season are also looked upon to have another big year for the team.

“I think guys like [Suarez] and [Martin] are going to get 5 plus goals during the year and you could add Chris Lara to that list,” said Cumbo. “But this team is comprised of a lot of players who are capable of scoring goals themselves. Our key players are going to need to step up but we do have several players who I think are going to show up and help us give a balanced effort.”

With last season now behind them and the 2013 season ready to start, the Pioneers are looking forward to a year to remember.

“Last season we were right there on the cusp so many times,” said Dewhurst. “I feel like last year was turning point for us going forward cause as of now last season was a stepping stone for us to really make a statement this season.”