After a highly successful run last year, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team hopes to build on that in 2025 with a dynamic group of 13 returning sophomores and incoming freshmen that make up a 30-man roster.
Last season, head Coach Francisco Cantero was the South Coast Conference North Division Coach of the Year and his Lancers won two playoff games, hosting and winning the first-ever postseason game played at Robinson Stadium (opened in 1999), then shocking a #2 seed and SCC North champion Mt. San Antonio on the road in the second round. His #15 seeded squad advanced as far as the SoCal Regional semifinals and now he wants his program to continue going forward.
PCC opened the '25 season on Friday with a 1-0 road victory at Moorpark, playing in the tough heat that his recently hit the Southland. Freshman Julian Zuniga (South Hills High) scored on a penalty kick into the upper left corner in the game's opening minute for the only scoring. Sophomore forward Cristian Villegas (goal, three assists last season) drew a foul that led to the PK.
Among the lettermen, All-SCC Second Team midfielder Ronaldo Garcia (five assists as a freshmen) and 2023 starting goalie Matthew Gilmore return as key performers. Gilmore made six saves for the shutout v. Moorpark.
Forwards Villegas and Israel Gonzalez are expected to help lead the offense with midfielder David Canales being a solid returner as well. The veteran defender trio of Josue Villa Zavala, 6-foot-4 tall Josiah Lucio (goal and an assist) and hard-working, 6-foot Jeremiah Alomo (goal and an assist) bolster the backfield.
Sophomore transfer forward Jouseph Contreras should provide offense after scoring a pair of goals at Rio Hondo College last season.
The newcomers include All-CIF Division 3 defender Andre Baktchedjian (Arcadia High) and midfielders Junior Martinez Cortes, who played on a Pacific League champion Pasadena High squad, and Evin Lavarreda (Arcadia), who was recently called up to the U-23 Guatamalan National Team, and defenders Jose Gomez, another local talent from Marshall Fundamental, and Alessandro Diaz (Walnut).
Other key freshmen are forwards Zuniga and Solemon Alveno-Donofrio (Crescenta Valley).
"We have a young, energetic team that has been putting in a lot of work this summer to get ready to compete in our very tough South Coast Conference," Cantero said. "Like every year, we want to shoot for a league title and a chance to qualify for the state playoffs. We have a well-balanced group that can compete at a high level."
Cantero likes his depth at goalie with the additions of Inez Aponte (played on a CIF LA City title team at Esteban Torres High) and 6-foot Leo Mendoza (El Monte).
The rest of the '25 roster is made up of sophomores in midfielders Yahir Gomez and Martin Ceja, defender Joseph Parra, and forward Jose Gonzalez along with freshmen in forwards Dominic Quijada (a redshirt from Burroughs HS), Tony Ramos (Burroughs), Jaden Harriman (Arcadia), James Chavez (Crescenta Valley), and Sebastian Jimenez (Gabrielino), defender Reyli Silva (Muir), and midfielders Andres Alonzo (Valencia) and Harry Hairipetian (Arcadia).
The starting 11 in the opener were Gilmore, Diaz, Cortes, Alverno-Donofrio, Garcia, Villegas, Zavala, Zuniga, Gomez, Canales and Baktchedjian.
The Lancers next play at Victor Valley on Tuesday, Aug. 26 (4 p.m.) before the team's home opener on Friday, Aug. 29 v. Palomar at Robinson Stadium, also a 4 p.m. kickoff.