Trailblazers men’s soccer program boasts experienced group entering third year
The 2024 campaign for the Centralia College men's soccer team was forgettable, but only in the wins-and-losses department.
Noel Vazquez's team, which finished 2-15-3 in its sophomore campaign as a program, was as young as it gets, with 16 of the Trailblazers' 22 players who started at least one game listed as freshmen. This fall, 10 of those 22 return as sophomores, and nearly three-quarters of Centralia College's goal production from a season ago is back in the fold, including Carlos Hernandez (tied for the team lead with seven goals).
The Trailblazers have wiped last fall's outcome from their memories and are entering the 2025 season with a blank canvas, although the experience of competing at the collegiate level has ripened their skills. A 2-0 scrimmage victory against Pacific Northwest Christian College Saturday evening proved that the team both has plenty of work to do but is headed in the right direction, according to Vazquez.
"We rotated every single player in our roster today, besides the guys who are redshirting or are hurt. They all did their jobs. I made substitutions, and the level didn't drop from the starting lineup to the second-string players," he said. "That was one of my biggest concerns. [Today,] we managed the ball a lot more than we're used to doing. I have great players from all over the country this year, and they're already making a difference."
While Vazquez acknowledges the maintained level of play on the pitch from the first string to the second, he wants to see the fitness level of his expected starters to increase with less than two weeks until the team's first match on Aug. 19 against Southwestern Oregon in the NWAC Friendlies.
"I just want us to get more fit and be able to stay in the game a little longer. I still feel a little bit unsettled with the fact that some guys who are key contributors still want a little break in between games," Vazquez said. "We need to understand that there's times where we need to have a stronger lineup and we need to fight through it."
Hernandez picked up where he left off last fall by playing a role in both of the Trailblazers' goals on Saturday, kicking the first one off a defender for an own goal in the 42nd minute before taking care of business himself on the second goal in the 87th minute.
Captain Alan Cox earned the most playing experience last autumn with 19 games played and 18 starts. Midfielder Mario Silva logged five goals on 13 shots a year ago, and he'll man the middle alongside returner Fernando Lopez. Center mid Owen Jacobs tacked on a pair of goals last year, and forward Damian Hernandez led all players with three assists.
Centralia College's replacement for starting goalkeeper Neftali Arellano is still up for debate, as four Trailblazers — Rico Ewell, Joshua Lopez, Joshua Madrigal and Noel Montenegro — are fighting for the right to man the goal. Ewell earned the starting nod Saturday, but the lineup is far from etched in ink.
As for freshmen contributors, Vazquez expects outside back Hugo Garcia and right back Alexander Pediangco to make an immediate impact out of the 18 freshmen on the team.
Centralia College is only entering its third year with a men's soccer team and has only won six games combined in its first two years, but Vazquez sees a turnaround approaching in 2025.
"They all get along really well. They all like spending time with each other. They like working really hard to make sure that we have a good season," he said. "Today was the first real test. Their ultimate goal is that we win as many games as we can and make the playoffs in our third year of existence. I think that would be a pretty great achievement for us as a team."
The Trailblazers' home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27 against Everett Community College at 6 p.m.