College of the Canyons men's soccer had a total of 11 players earn post-season all-conference awards including Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year Cesar Dominguez.
College of the Canyons men's soccer had a total of 11 players earn post-season all-conference awards including Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year Cesar Dominguez.

Cougar Men's Soccer Looking to Build on Momentum

Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

A year after winning three of its final four matches to narrowly miss out on a postseason spot, the College of the Canyons men's soccer program is ready to get back on the pitch when regular season action gets underway Aug. 28.

The Cougars will first play in a pair of pre-season exhibitions, beginning with a home friendly vs. nearby The Master's University at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17.

The following week, Canyons heads south to tangle with Fullerton College in the final pre-season tune up.

COC head coach Phil Marcellin and the Cougars will officially begin the 2018 campaign under the lights, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 in a non-conference match vs. Cypress College.

A full 2018 schedule is here.

Matches are held at the state-of-the-art COC soccer facility located on the north end of the Valencia campus, adjacent to Cougar Stadium.

Admission to all COC soccer games is free.

A Look Back: 2017 Cougar Men's Soccer

COC finished the season with an overall record of 7-12-2 and conference mark of 4-4-2 to place third in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division. The Cougars posted a record of 4-1-1 across the final six games to head into the final game of the year with postseason aspirations, but fell just short of reaching that goal. 

Sophomore forward Aaron Winsick was named the conference co-Player of the Year with a combined eight Cougars named to the all-conference squad. Winsick tied for the team lead with nine goals and added an assist to finish with 19 points across 19 contests. He is the first Cougar to be named Player of the Year since Andres Bueno earned the honor outright after the 2009 season. In the spring, Winsick committed to continue playing at nearby California Lutheran University.

Other All-WSC First Team honorees for the Cougars included freshman midfielders Cesar Dominguez and Jordan Pacheco, along with sophomore defender Jesus Mejia. Freshman midfielders Justin Marquez and Jamie Ledezma both earned All-WSC Second Team honors, while freshman defenders Steven Bobadilla and Jesus Ocampo were both Honorable Mention selections for the Cougars.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.