FULLERTON, Calif. - The 2015 season was a special one for the Cal State Fullerton men's soccer as the team collected 13 wins (most since 2000), won the Big West Tournament Title (second-straight) and made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years.
And after all the success from last season, the future looks as bright as ever for Titans Soccer as the team returns all seven players who received all-conference honors last season, which means that there will be many Titans to keep an eye on in 2016.
We start our list with the underclassmen who provided a big spark in their freshman campaigns as each one of them received All-Big West Honorable Mention honors and were named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Brandon West (F): The sophomore looks to elevate his game to another level in 2016 as he finished his freshman season with three goals (T-3rd on team) and started 20 of 22 games played on the pitch. West received Big West Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7, which just happened to be the same week that the Swedish native scored his first career goal against George Washington.
Ronaldo Pineda (MF): Entering his sophomore season, Ronaldo Pineda led the Titans with 38 shots last year and placed 10 of those shots on target. Pineda appeared in 20 matches for the Titans and started in 12 contests, while netting two goals and collecting one assist. The sophomore will be a key part of the Fullerton midfield this season.
Carlos Troncoso (D): After netting his first goal against UC Riverside, Troncoso solidified himself as one of the premier defenders on the Titans as he started in 21 of 22 matches. The sophomore also finished the year with 12 shots and had a career-high four shots against UC Santa Barbara. When watching the Fullerton defense this season, make sure to keep an eye on No. 15.
Now we move on to the upperclassmen who have continued to get better and better each season under coach George Kuntz and have been key contributors to Fullerton's back-to-back Big West Tournament Titles.
Robert Coronado (MF): About to enter his junior season, Coronado has started in 26 of 45 games he's played in at Fullerton. The midfielder set new career-highs last year as he finished the year with four assists and started in 18 games. Coronado's ability to put the ball in the right spot was put on full display in the Titans 2-0 win over UC Riverside as he assisted on both goals in that contest, which helped him earn All-Big West Honorable Mention honors.
"We are looking forward to doing what this program has not seen in decades which is make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament," Coronado said. "We are also working hard as a team to defend our Big West title. As for myself, leading by example on and off the field and becoming a role model on the team is most important for me as I head into my final two years."
Ricardo Covarrubias (D): Being the anchor on the Titans defense, Covarrubias started in all 19 contests he played in and was a key component to the program-high 12 clean sheets last season. The senior's great defense on the backline earned him a spot on the All-Big West second team. Look out for Covarrubias to continue to provide great defense for the backline come this season.
Diego Sanchez (MF): After finishing his freshman year with two goals, Sanchez would breakout in his sophomore campaign as the junior finished last season with a team-high eight goals, which quadrupled his total from his freshman year. Sanchez also collected three assists last season, while shooting on target 50 percent of the time. Even after his impressive sophomore year, the Bellflower native looks to make his junior year his best yet.
"This season I am an upperclassman, therefore I feel I'm more experienced and able to lead our team to another Big West title and make a deeper run into the NCAA Tournament," Sanchez said. "My goal for this season is to help the team in any way, shape or form. My personal goal is to be an offensive threat on the right side and provide scoring opportunities for my teammates and I. Teamwork will get us to where we all want to be!"
Nicolo D'Amato (MF): Served as the heart of the midfield for the Titans in 2015 as he started in all 22 games for Fullerton, which earned him an All-Big West Honorable Mention nod. The junior finished last season with one goal, one assist and recorded 29 shots. The leadership he showed throughout his sophomore campaign was irreplaceable as his teammates voted him team MVP. Look for D'Amato to continue his stellar play in the midfield and lead the Titan squad in 2016.
And last but not least.
David Rodriguez Elias (GK): After a year where Elias set a program-high 12 clean sheets, finished second in the Fullerton record books with a 0.89 goals against average and received Big West Tournament MVP honors, it's easy to conclude he's one of the better goalkeepers in CSUF history. But what makes last season even more impressive is that Elias started all 22 matches, recorded 63 saves and had a save percentage of 75. 9 percent. The senior has set the standard at the goalkeeper position and he will look to continue his stellar play as the 2016 season is set to begin.
"This year we have a special team that I believe can defend our Big West titles and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament," Elias said. "The team this year stands out by its cohesiveness on and off the field. Personally, my goals for the season are to get at least eight shutouts, below a 1.00 goal against average and to be the best leader possible for my team."
The regular season begins on Aug. 26 for the Titans as they visit Virtue Field to take on the Vermont Catamounts at 10 a.m. PT. Fullerton has won the previous two meetings between both programs with the last meeting coming in 1995, where the Titans defeated the Catamounts, 4-1.
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