Soccer Preview: Resilient sophomores focused on the bigger picture

The Marshalltown Community College Men's Soccer team returns eight sophomores for the 2016 season. Among those returners include two NJCAA All-Americans, four All-Region XI selections, and three NJCAA Academic Award winners.

With a wealth of experience to compliment a talented incoming freshman crop, the Tigers, ranked No. 7 in the preseason NJCAA Division I poll, look to build on a magical season in 2015 that saw numerous individual and team records shattered.

"Last season was not only a positive year for our program, but the college as a whole," head coach Rafael Martinez expressed regarding the team's 18-1-2 record. "Between the support we received from our campus and the community, you could tell our student-athletes had a great amount of pride for being a Tiger. We hope to utilize our experience this year in continuing that competitive nature that brought so much success last season."

The Tigers return a pair of NJCAA All-Americans in first-team goalkeeper Rafael Pereira (Lisbon, Portugal/Escola Secundaria Vergilio Ferreira) and second-team defender Fernando Gutierrez (Ibiza, Spain/I.E.S. Algarb). Also returning for their sophomore campaign are First-Team All-Region XI selection Pedro Oliveira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Colegio Estadual) and second-team honoree Thiago Fernandes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Colegio Dom Oton Mota).

Artur Aguiar (Fortaleza, Brazil/7 de Setembro) and Sirleaf Wiah (Brooklyn Park, MN/Prairie Seeds) carry over a combined 15 points from last year, while Miguel Jareno (I.E.S. Lopez-Neyra) and John Spells (Round Rock, TX/Round Rock) add a full year of experience to this year's roster.

"We have a very good group of sophomores," Martinez continued. "This group demonstrates the qualities needed to guide the new players to this year's team. There hasn't been much of a learning curve during the three weeks of preseason due to our sophomore leadership."

"Our players do a great job of understanding that team and individual success are connected and that there's a need for each other. The team depends on the individual effort to put forth our best effort each and every day. Our sophomores have gotten the point across to the new members that you do not come to MCC and receive individual recognition without putting maximum effort towards the team."

Martinez commended the hard work of the fresh faces on the team throughout preseason camp. "The freshmen understand where they are right now after three weeks. They understand what makes MCC a strong program. They understand the 'Marshalltown Way' of being resilient on the field and being a family that is ready to compete every single day."

The 2015 team was just minutes away from reaching the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since 2012 after falling to Iowa Western Community College 1-0 in double overtime of the Region XI Championship. An undefeated regular season was rewarded with a regular season Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) title, but this year's group has their sights set on a more profound destination.

"What the team did last year won't help now," Martinez noted. "We strive to get better and better every day. If we want to continue to grow, we have to continue to rely on the sophomore class while looking for commitment from the freshmen to give their best. So far they are very focused and committed to the program and their teammates. We want to continue to maintain that level of intensity and pride which will ultimately determine our success."

This year's schedule features a new face to the conference slate as Hawkeye Community College joins Region XI, expanding the total number of conference members to nine. Along with the Tigers, Iowa Western joins the national preseason rankings at No. 4 while Iowa Lakes Community College and Iowa Central Community College are receiving votes in the poll.

"We have to perform at our best each and every game in this conference," Martinez stated. "Every program improves each year and the expectations for our region continues to rise. The region is consistently one of the strongest regions in the country because of the competitiveness and that is the beauty of where we play."

Martinez noted the all-around support throughout campus and the community as a reflection of the national prominence of the program. "Being nationally ranked is not only a testament to the student-athletes we have, but everyone on our campus and in the town of Marshalltown. Our student-athletes try to do their very best on the field, but that only happens when they are reaching their needs everywhere else - academically and socially. The success is a direct connection of how well our faculty and staff work at recruiting model students to our campus."

Martinez enters his seventh year at the helm of the Tigers. After a remarkable 2015 season, Martinez became the winningest coach in program history and sports a record 77-32-6 (.696 winning percentage). Creighton Jenness also returns for his seventh year as the goalkeepers coach while Chris Fuchsen becames his second stint as assistant coach.

"The overall human environment that we create at MCC ultimately makes us more competitive on the field. When students feel comfortable, whether on the field, in the classroom, or throughout the town, they find success. Our mission is to try and fully develop the student-athletes in the whole sense of the word and that ultimately helps us be competitive and allows us to reach our full potential."

With the 2016 campaign kicking off at 4:00 PM on Tuesday afternoon at home against Scott Community College, Martinez and the Tigers will look to keep their competitive nature at full throttle with a hunger to exceed all expectations.

Tuesday's game will be live streamed: LIVE VIDEO and live stats will also be available: LIVE STATS

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