LUKAS  BLANKENSTEIN / CONTRIBUTOR

Undefeated for the first eight games of the season, the USD men’s soccer team has been nationally ranked at No. 15 in the latest National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)  Coaches Poll. Coach Brian Quinn and the players started the season with six wins and two draws before losing their ninth game against California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).  This loss against CSUF brought an end to the Torero’s pre-conference schedule.

After winning their second consecutive West Coast Conference (WCC) Championship and NCAA tournament last season, the team once again has their sights set high.

USD senior Jack Sandmeyer talked about the goal of  the  season.

“Our main focus at the beginning of the season was starting off strong,” Sandmeyer said. “Our first four games looked pretty daunting as Duke, Lipscomb and Washington were all highly touted teams. Overall, we set a general expectation of making the NCAA tournament again by winning the WCC conference.”  

The Torero’s started out their season by keeping pace with Duke, ranked at No. 20 in the country, who holds the nation’s highest-scoring offense. The game, their first of the season, eventually ended in a 2-2 draw. The Toreros ran up the score against Lipscomb in their third game of the season with an 8-1 win at home. During the game, USD junior and midfielder Cesar Bahena picked up a hat trick by scoring three goals. 

The Torero’s also came away with two wins against their intracity rivals, San Diego State University (SDSU)  and University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The win against SDSU occurred in the second home game of the season. The Torero’s walked away with a 3-0 victory over the Aztecs, followed by a 2-1 victory against the Tritons. This happened away in La Jolla  thanks to a goal in minute 79 by USD junior Samy Kanaan. 

Kanaan explained the importance of these rivalry games. 

“These rivalry games against UCSD and SDSU proved that we are the best team in San Diego,” Kanaan said. “It put a lot of uncertainty to bed.” 

No. 10 Samy Kanaan shoots a goal against the University of Washington Huskies. Photo courtesy of @samykanaan/Instagram

In addition, the Toreros had a more symbolic victory in their defeat over California Baptist University. Last year, the Torero’s were knocked out in the first round of the NCAA National Championship tournament by the Lancers on a penalty kick. This year, the Toreros returned the favor with a 2-0 win in Riverside.

USD junior Owen Walz talked about the importance of the win over Riverside.

“I was on the team last year, and we definitely wanted to get this win and not let them beat us again,” Walz said. “It felt even better winning at their field as well.”  

The Toreros have been able to win with a balance of offense and defense, currently tied for 16th in goals scored and tied for 11th in goals against average.

On offense, the team had to find a way to replace the contributions of midfielder Mason Tunbridge. Tunbridge joined the USL League One team South Georgia Tormenta FC over the summer. He also led the team in both goals and assists last season. Kanaan has filled the cleats Tunbridge left behind and now leads the team in goals scored. 

The Toreros have received significant contributions from midfielder and junior Cesar Bahena, who has recorded four goals and  two  assists.  The  Toreros  have also been helped by first-year midfielder Luca Fava, who made an instant impact with two goals and two assists while also recording the fifth most minutes played on the team. Junior and midfielder Josh Martinez has provided an offensive punch coming off the bench, recording a team-leading three assists.

Fava talked about what it meant to be a part of the team.

“I am extremely proud and grateful to be a part of this team first and foremost,” Fava said. “It has been so much fun to be here at USD, and I feel like it will just continue from this moment on. Being able to contribute to the team with 4 goal involvements registered… As well as playing significant minutes has felt really, really good.”  

Other notable student-athletes contributing on the defensive end are USD junior Owen Walz, USD senior Ethan Warne and first-year Mattias Bauer. After not playing in the first three games of the season,  Bauer has played the last five. This occured after junior Simon Deus Miller was pulled from the Torero’s game against Lipscomb with an injury.  In net, grad student Luis Ludosan and sophomore Donovan Parisian have split time, each playing four games. 

Looking forward, the Toreros begin their conference schedule, and subsequent WCC title defense, on Sept. 28 at home against St. Mary’s College. As the season progresses, the team will carry the momentum from their opening season and try to climb even higher up the rankings.

USD men’s soccer was named the 2023 WCC Champions after defeating Gonzaga 1-0. Photo courtesy of @usdmsoccer/Instagram