The best men's soccer season in Fresno Pacific University history went undefeated all the way to the national finals as the Sunbirds finished first runner-up in the National Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (NAIA).
The University of Rio Grande (Ohio), won the November 25 match 1-0. The tournament took place in Olathe, Kansas.
Sunbirds Fabricio Codeceira was named the tournament most outstanding offensive player. Josh Ollenberger, Eddie Gutierrez, Orlando Ramirez and Codeceira were all named to the championship all-tournament team.
FPU's season record was 22-0 and the squad averaged 4.4 goals per game on the way to Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and NAIA Region II championships. The Sunbirds out-scored Southern Nazarene University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Berry College to earn a spot in the national finals.
"You couldn't find two more contrasting styles," said FPU head coach Jaime Ramirez of the Sunbirds and Redmen. "We build everything and they play long-ball and counter. We didn't create as many scoring opportunities as usual and they had something to do with that. They are very well organized in the back and doubled and tripled Orlando and Fabricio. We still had our chances, we just didn't finish the one we needed."
Area players:
Josh Ollenberger, sophomore, Fresno, Clovis West High School
Erin Breen, junior, Fresno, Clovis West High School
Jared Dugger, junior, Fresno, Clovis West High School
Andy Deming, freshman, Fresno, Clovis West High School
Nick Lomeli, junior, Fresno, Clovis West High School
Rojas Padilla, senior, Clovis, Clovis High School
Blake Brown, freshman, Fresno, Bullard High School
Hector Santillan, sophomore, Fresno, Roosevelt High School
Orlando Ramirez, junior, Fresno, Roosevelt High School
Adam Arteaga, sophomore, Watsonville, Sunnyside High School
Adam Kernaghan, freshman, Oakhurst, Yosemite High School
Daniel Flores, senior, Tulare, Tulare Union High School
Roberto Perez, junior, Reedley, Reedley High School
Eddie Gutierrez, junior, Porterville, Porterville High School
Wesley Teixeira, sophomore, Porterville, Monanche High School/Porterville High School
Joshua Kaminski, senior, Visalia, Mount Whitney High School
Agustin Gonzalez, junior, Visalia, Redwood High School