e-Edition
Get the latest news in your inbox!
Get the latest news in your inbox!
e-Edition
Trending:
Christmas came early for Cuyamaca College this year, when the men’s soccer team handed the East County two-year college its first state championship.
The Coyotes won their last 15 games and the California Community College Athletic Association title after starting the season with a 4-4-2 record.
“We had a great championship game to cap an amazing season,” said head coach Brian Hiatt-Aleu of Cuyamaca College’s 2-0 win over Butte College back on Dec. 8 in Sacramento. “The last game capped a season of determination. It’s a dream come true.
“We overcame a lot … injuries, some early disappointment and mistakes. We just got stronger mentally. And we’ve always gotten stronger as the season goes along.”
In 2023, for example, Cuyamaca won 12 straight games before lost to El Camino in the state championship game.
And although the Coyotes were second in the state in 2023, they returned to the playoffs this season as the No. 10 seed in the 24-team south region. They were also the No. 10 seed in the south in 2023. And their highest ranking in the state polls going into the playoffs: 10th.
“Seed us No. 10 again next year,” said Hiatt-Aleu. “We play the game, not the seedings.”
Enrique Rodriguez, the Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference this season, said “everyone was disappointed” by the team’s seed.
“We didn’t talk about it, but everyone on the team knew what it meant,” he said. “We weren’t seen as threats. It was up to us to show on the field what we could do. And we did. We won because we played our game. When we got to the playoffs, we were determined not to lose.”
In the second round of the Southern California Regionals, the Coyotes scored a 2-1 win in overtime at Santa Monica despite being a man down. In the state semifinals, they spotted Canada a goal in the game’s second minute before winning 2-1 in two overtimes.
Rodriguez tied the semifinal game in the 34th minute on what Hiatt-Aleu described as a “sensational goal” — a rocket from the left side into the upper right corner of the goal. Ali Almaliki got the game-winner in the 104th minute when his free kick cleared the Canada defensive wall.
Esteban Salais scored both goals in the championship match as goalkeeper Broward Maryan needed to make only two saves behind the Coyotes’ heralded defense.
“Our defense set us apart,” said center back Geraldo Ambriz. “We’ve got a team of ball handlers and defenders. We were able to control the ball in our zone with our passing. That was a key.”
Not that the 2024 season was all roses.
The Coyotes were 1-3-1 after five games and 4-4-2 after losing their PCAC opener to Mesa College at home.
“The slow start became a little mental block. As a coach, I had to trust new players. But the returning players had to lead them,” Hiatt-Aleu said.
“This wasn’t 2023 anymore. I told them ‘don’t think about last year.’ Once we embraced that, we started to enjoy ourselves.”
Two other things happened after the loss to Mesa.
Rodriguez and the team captains led a team meeting. And Hiatt-Aleu moved some players into new positions.
“Once we meshed, it was a great thing to see,” said the only coach Cuyamaca men’s soccer has known. “We also got some guys back from injuries and illness. Other teams didn’t have the depth we have. It wasn’t just 11 players. And the freshmen came on and challenged themselves.”
“We started off a bit shaky,” said Ambriz. “I knew once we adjusted and figured it out we were going to be good. We were confident in our style. Move the ball around and the goals will come.”
The Coyotes finished 10-1-1 in PCAC play, winning the conference title for the second straight year … and for the fourth time in five years and the fifth time in the last nine. This was Cuyamaca’s third straight trip to the state playoffs. They lost in the elite eight in 2022.
In addition to being the PCAC MVP, Rodriguez was a first-team all-California pick and the MVP of the state tournament. Hiatt-Aleu said the Chula Vista High School product is “super talented.”
Sophomore center back Robert Somerville (Santana High School) is also a first-team, all-state selection as well as the PCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Joining Rodriguez and Somerville on the All-PCAC team were freshman winger Almilki (Motivated Youth Academy High School), sophomore Ambriz (Hoover High School), freshman left wing back Luis Maciel (San Ysidro High School) and two freshmen from Bonita Vista High School, striker Salais and center midfielder Diego Esquivel.
Almaliki and Ambriz have already won national championships playing for the San Diego Surf club team under Hiatt-Aleu.
“Clearly, there is plenty of soccer talent in the area,” said Hiatt-Aleu, who uses a modified 4-4-2 alignment at Cuyamaca. “We might have five guys on defense and four in the midfield at times with only one player actually up front,” said Rodriguez. “But we counterattack from there. Everyone on this team can control the ball and push forward when needed. And it really helped the team when the coach had some of us change positions.
“Possession play is our strength. Control the ball and find open lanes. We are very dependent on team work. We like to move the ball around, control the ball and wear out the other team while forcing them to chase the ball.”
A native of Chile, Hiatt-Aleu played soccer at Southwestern College and Point Loma Nazarene University.
Hiatt-Aleu has a 146-68-54 record with the Coyotes and is 59-19-16 over the past four seasons.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Hiatt-Aleu. “When we started the program 12 years ago, we wanted to put Cuyamaca on the map, becoming competitive, grinding, getting any games we could.
“Once we started becoming a little successful, then all of a sudden more people wanted to play us, and then we started making playoffs, winning conference titles and making noise.”
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com.
Copyright © 2024 MediaNews Group
