The men’s ACC soccer team will be young this season, returning only three starters from last year. The Red Devils finished 8-7 in 2013, after losing to Johnson County in the Region VI playoffs.
Coach Doug Desmarteau begins his ninth year at the helm of the Allen Community College team.
“We have to reload every year,” he said. “Our expectations are always to make the playoffs and then compete to win the conference and to win the region.”
Desmarteau said the team’s returning players are going to have to step up this season.
“Chase Tonkin, our starting goalkeeper last year, he’s back,” Desmarteau said. “We’re expecting him to come up big in goal for us again this year. Dominic Nwagwu, he’s a returner who scored several goals last year and plays forward.”
Neil Jantzen started on defense last season.
“We expect him to accept some leadership responsibilities this season,” Desmarteau said. “He’s a redshirt kid, so this is his third season with the team, so he’s one we need some leadership from.”
The team will also return Pedro Ortega, Dylan Orian, Elijah Munganga and Julio Guerrero, making for seven players returning. There are 17 freshmen listed on the team’s roster.
“We lost three of four players from the back line last year, so we are trying to reload that,” Desmarteau said. “We’re trying some different people out there for the moment.”
Desmarteau looks to several freshmen who will be able to contribute right away, including Fernando Robles, a midfielder out of Santa Ana, Calif.
Oklahoma natives John Jean-Francois, a forward, and Logan Harris, listed as a midfielder and defender, are expected to see some immediate playing time.
“There’s a handful of other guys that we’re hoping to see step up,” Desmarteau said. “There are a lot of spots open and we are expecting the freshmen to step in and play right away.”
The Red Devils have two exhibition games remaining. The team travels to Neosho, Mo. to play Crowder on Wednesday at 4 p.m. On Aug. 19, the team will play at McPherson for their final exhibition game before the season starts Aug. 22.
“It’s just kind of a time where I can see everybody play and try to lock down positions to see who will play where — different combinations of players in different positions,” Desmarteau said.
The exhibitions will be used to see where the team is at heading into the season.
“We would like to win the games, but it’s more important to see where we’re at and what we need to work on and improve before we get into the regular season,” Desmarteau said.
The Red Devils’ season-opener will be at home at 4 p.m. Aug. 22 against Blue River Community College.
ACC men’s soccer team reloads with freshmen
