The 2007 Cal State Stanislaus men's soccer team will aim to build upon the success it had in 2006 when the team finished with 10 wins for the first time since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 1998 and earned its first-ever bid to the CCAA Championship Tournament.

A solid core of returning players will be a huge factor for the Warriors this season, according to Head Coach Eric Mild, now entering his seventh season at the helm of the men's program.

“With the success that we had last year, the loss of only three starting players and potentially 16 to 18 returning players making the team this year, we could potentially be better than we were last year,” said Mild.

According to Mild, returning players could fill all 11 starting positions on the field. Experience and leadership will be plentiful, with six seniors and three juniors in the starting lineup. “That experience on the field will hopefully help us score goals and win games,” he said.

The Warriors finished second in the CCAA North Division with a 9-5-2 record in 2006. The team qualified as the third seed for the CCAA Championship Tournament on the final day of the season with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Humboldt State.

“We are very optimistic about our chances to make the conference tournament and compete for the conference championship,” said Mild. “The talent level is the deepest we've had. Having the successful season last year enabled us to bring in a solid recruiting class.”

With all the potential that the men's soccer team holds for 2007, the road to achieve its goals will be a tough one. The first three matches of the year are against opponents that were ranked in the top six of the NSCAA Far West regional rankings last season: Notre Dame de Namur, Seattle Pacific and Seattle University. One positive is that all of those games will be played on the Warriors' home field.

Both Seattle and Seattle Pacific are expected to return to the regional tournament this season. Notre Dame de Namur is a provisional Division II member and is not eligible for postseason play. Seattle is coming off of a West Region title last year, and is less than three years removed from their NCAA title in 2004.

“It would be very important for us to have some success in those first three matches of the season,” said Mild. “Our conference is going to be as strong as it's ever been.”

Mild said that the toughest part of the Warriors' 2007 CCAA schedule will be two consecutive road trips in mid-September. The first features a showdown at Sonoma State and then at Humboldt State two days later. The following weekend, the Warriors travel down south to play Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, respectively.

“It's tough to win on the road in our conference,” said Mild. “Last season we had four road victories in conference (play). Those four wins right what put us into the tournament.”

The Warriors have improved every season since Mild became head coach in 2001. After missing the CCAA Championship Tournament on the final day in 2005, the Warriors burst through — went 6-0-2 to finish the season — and made the tournament last year, only to lose in the first round to Cal State L.A. 2-1.

“Our goals are to make the conference tournament and win the conference tournament this time because we have the experience of having played in it before,” said Mild.

Following is a position-by-position outlook for the upcoming season:

GOALKEEPER: Mando Herrera, a three-year starter, is expected to earn the starting spot in the net this season. The senior earned All-CCAA honorable mention and All-Region second team honors in 2006 after posting a 1.13 goals-against-average with seven shutouts in his junior campaign. Andrew Arellano and Mike McNeill are expected to compete for the backup spot.

DEFENDERS: Key returners expected to earn starting spots include seniors Brice Burtchett and Kyle Lindquist, as well as junior Thomas Janz. Lindquist was named an All-CCAA honorable mention in 2006 after scoring six goals. Competition for the fourth starting defender spot will be high, with returners Cody Chambers, Colin Breshears and All-CCAA honorable mention selection Artemio Arteaga, all in the mix. Sophomore Bret Kitley will compete for playing time as well. “The strength of our team is definitely our defense,” said Mild.

MIDFIELDERS: As with the backfield, Mild is all but set at the midfield position. Senior Alfredo Renteria is expected to earn a starting spot, along with juniors Matt Johnson and Ross Crown. Juniors Matt Ryan and Taylor McKillop will be joined by new freshman recruit Matt Santinello in competition for the fourth starting spot at midfield. Senior Matt Mouro is coming off of an ACL injury that required surgery and is looking to earn a spot on the team in his final season.

FORWARDS: Seniors Kishin Hamaguchi and Dennis Wolfe are expected to start the season as the Warriors' forwards. Wolfe led the team in scoring in 2005. Those expected to earn some playing time include former Warrior baseball player Kevin McCarthy, freshman Francisco Soto, and freshman Kyle Beck, the Warriors' top recruit at the forward position.