CSULB men's soccer plans trip to regionals

More than two-thirds of the way through its eighth season in the National Collegiate Club Soccer Association, the Cal State Long Beach men's soccer team (3-3-1) hopes to sweep its three remaining games and return to the playoffs.

Last season, the men's soccer team took first place in the NCCSA western region and advanced to the West Regional playoffs in Las Vegas. A majority of the team graduated in May, leaving only two returning starters.

Team captain and defender Rich Dare and Jason Murphy are the team's two returning starters.

"The guys have really come together and leadership qualities have come from each player," Dare said. "Each has a special quality they can use to help pull the other players up."

Dare attributes the success of the team to the chemistry between the players. Unlike other teams in the region, Dare said the 49ers have more than just one player who stands out.

CSULB competes against Biola, University of the Pacific, USC, Pepperdine, UC Riverside, and Brigham Young University in the western region.

"The league is really competitive," Dare said. "Each team we have played has two or three really good quality players guys they base their teams around. As far as one team dominating the region, no, it's just really competitive. As long as you don't quit you'll do fine."

For the first few weeks of the season, Dare had to act as coach until former CSULB player Sanjitt Tore was recruited to coach with help from assistant coach John Reynolds.

Tore is a graduate student at CSULB who had not originally planned to coach the team.

"It's hard to watch when you want to play, but it's a lot more fun than I had thought," Tore said. "It's difficult ... when you want them to do something and they can't do it, you just watch them."

Reynolds not only handles the administrative responsibilities, but helps with fund raising and coaching.

Unlike past teams that played together for years, this season's team is starting from scratch.

"It's starting to come around," Tore said. "The guys don't really know each other, but once we start on our trips, staying in hotels, and people are really having fun together, it will really help out on the field."

The NCCSA is larger than NCAA soccer and unlike basketball or football, everyone who tries out has the opportunity to join the team.

"Some people complain about soccer being boring or low scoring, but here at Long Beach, you can go out there and have a good time," Dare said. "We're not boring, we're always attacking."