POMONA, Calif. - In 2011, the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team filled nine of its 11 starting lineup spots with seniors.
For the seven returners who saw action off the bench last season, the
upcoming season represents an opportunity to step into the spotlight.
There will be plenty of competition for those vacancies in the starting
lineup though, as 16 new Broncos have joined the program for the 2012-13
school year.
The signee class features 11 freshman and four transfers, including a
junior arriving from Division II Adams State. The group features local
products, including Pomona and Claremont natives, and a pair of
out-of-state players from Oregon.
Spencer Aiken |
Tony Bichai |
Matt Boudreau |
Brandon Chatham |
Scott Clark |
Abiel Coronado |
Brandon Cortez |
Leonel Espinoza |
Ian Joyce |
Tim Kilpatrick |
Johnny Mercer |
Justyn Peeples |
Christopher Rosales |
Anton Russell |
Tyler Swobe |
Jeremy Winston
Spencer Aiken
Freshman | Defender | Long Beach, Calif. | Woodrow Wilson High School
Spencer Aiken starred for the Woodrow Wilson High School boys' soccer
team, earning Best Defensive Player honors the last two years. Aiken
also served as the squad's captain as a senior and received Most
Valuable Player recognition in his junior campaign.
Outside of high school competition, Aiken also played for the South Bay
Force at the club level. There, he guided the Force to the Surf Cup
title in 2010 and a runner-up finish in 2011. In 2012, Aiken lifted the
team to the Nomads Tournament Championship and a semifinal finish at
nationals.
Tony Bichai
Freshman | Forward | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Mater Dei High School
A 2008 graduate of Mater Dei High School, Tony Bichai enrolled at CPP
but has yet to compete collegiately on the soccer team. He excelled in
high school, totaling 33 goals and guiding the Mater Dei squad to the
semifinal round of the CIF Division I playoffs as a senior. Bichai also
served as a member of the National Honors Society and California
Scholarship Federation during his high school years.
One of Bichai's favorite soccer memories was scoring a goal during the
2008 CIF quarterfinals against Long Beach Cabrillo to help his team
advance to the semifinals. Earlier in his soccer career, he earned the
chance to compete at the 2005 Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Matt Boudreau
Senior | Forward | Murrieta, Calif. | Murrieta Valley High School
A track and field standout for the Broncos the past three years, Matt
Boudreau has decided to also compete in soccer starting this fall. He
was a four-time letterwinner in soccer at Murrieta Valley High School,
where he became the program's career goals leader.
Through his time at CPP, he's earned All-Region honors while focusing on
sprints, hurdles and relays. Boudreau helped the Broncos capture two
conference relay titles in 2011. The Murrieta native is also active
outside of competition, as he'll serve as the Bronco Athletic
Association (BAA) President in the 2012-13 school year.
Brandon Chatham
Freshman | Goalkeeper | Beaverton, Ore. | Beaverton High School
One of two Beaverton High School student-athletes in the 2012 signing
class, Brandon Chatham June 16 in Oregon. The 6-foot-1 goalkeeper put
together a terrific high school career as a three-year letterwinner in
soccer and a Student-Athlete Excellence award recipient for his work in
the classroom.
In guiding the Beaverton soccer squad to runner-up finishes in the
Oregon State Cup and the OSAA 6A State championship, Chatham collected
All-Metro First Team All-State 6A Goalkeeper Runner-Up honors. Along the
way, he picked up impressive shutouts of the Oregon State Champion team
and the Santa Clara Sporting club team.
Scott Clark
Freshman | Defender/Midfielder | Foothill Ranch, Calif. | Trabuco Hills High School
Having excelled in two sports through his time at Trabuco Hills High
School, Scott Clark finished his tenure there with graduation on June
14. His many athletic accomplishments featured a Most Valuable Player
selection for track and field after the 2009-10 season. In soccer, Clark
collected All-League First Team honors as a senior and received the
Golden Boot recognition in both of his final two seasons.
Clark earned Principal's Honor Roll status for his work in the classroom
and once he arrives to CPP, he plans to study business and education.
Abiel Coronado
Junior | Forward/Midfielder| San Diego, Calif. | Rio Hondo College
As a member of the Rio Hondo College soccer team, Abiel Coronado helped
continue the program's success the last two seasons. Before graduating
from Southwest High School in 2003, Coronado guided the boys' soccer
squad to a CIF championship. While at Southwest, he completed several
advanced placement courses.
Coronado also brings plenty of club experience to the Broncos' program.
He's excelled on both the San Diego Boca FC and the Thunder Bay Chill
teams.
Brandon Cortez
Freshman | Forward | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Trabuco Hills High School
Through his years at Trabuco Hills High School that ended in his 2008
graduation, Brandon Cortez excelled on the soccer field and in the
classroom. He served as the team's captain and went on to earn Golden
Boot and Most Valuable Player honors. Cortez also received Scholar's
Award recognition for his academic prowess.
For Cortez, one of his favorite soccer memories is guiding the
Pateadores to a national club title. Currently, he is pursuing a degree
in science.
Leonel Espinoza
Freshman | Defender | Pomona, Calif. | Bonita High School
A local student-athlete from Pomona, Leonel Espinoza helped bolster the
backline for the Bearcats of Bonita High School. He totaled three goals
and two assists as a junior, with the team going 2-0-1 in matches that
featured an Espinoza score. The 6-foot-1 defender shined academically as
well, receiving scholar-athlete status during his sophomore and junior
campaigns.
One of Espinoza's most memorable soccer moments was getting selected to
compete for the Arsenal FC academy, where he played in 10 games at the
U-17/18 level.
Ian Joyce
Freshman | Defender | Moreno Valley, Calif. | Canyon Springs High School
A three-sport star at Canyon Springs High School, Ian Joyce excelled in
soccer, water polo and swimming. On the soccer field, he guided the high
school team to the CIF quarterfinal stage in 2010-11 and finished as a
four-year letterwinner. Joyce also lettered all four years in water
polo, helping the squad reach the CIF playoffs as a junior. Through his
water polo career, he collected All-League First Team and Most Valuable
Player honors while serving as the captain for Canyon Springs.
Regularly keeping his grade point average above 3.5, Joyce received
numerous academic awards. He earned selection as an All-Scholar Athlete
for all three sports. Joyce also collected accolades for excellence in
writing and received the school's "Up and Coming Artist Award" as well.
Tim Kilpatrick
Freshman | Defender/Midfielder | Anaheim, Calif. | Loara High School
An Anaheim native, Tim Kilpatrick graduated June 13 from Loara High
School. There, he served as the soccer team's captain for three years
and collected All-League honors in two of those seasons. Kilpatrick
excelled in the classroom as well, receiving Principal's Honor Roll
recognition in three different years.
One of Kilpatrick's favorite soccer memories is guiding his club team to
a showcase title in Seattle, Wash. Once he graduates from CPP,
Kilpatrick aspires to become either a physical therapist or doctor.
Johnny Mercer
Sophomore | Forward | Indian Wells, Calif. | Adams State
In 2011, Johnny Mercer served as the top striker for Adams State of the
Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The 6-foot-1
forward totaled 10 points on four goals and two assists. Mercer made the
best of his chances, landing 21 of his 36 shots on goal. He also
performed well in the classroom, earning a spot on the RMAC All-Academic
Team.
A 2010 graduate of Silver Creek High School, Mercer collected
All-Conference First Team and All-Area First Team honors while totaling
nine goals and 10 assists as a senior. He also guided the Colorado Storm
North Red club team to a state championship at the U17 level and the
Elite 1 League Championship.
Justyn Peeples
Freshman | Defender | Riverside, Calif. | Martin Luther King High School
Another addition to the Broncos' defense, Justyn Peeples put together a
stellar career at Martin Luther King High School leading up to his
graduation on June 6. His soccer achievements included All-League First
Team and All-CIF Third Team status. Peeples also performed well
academically, reaching highest honors with one of the top grade point
averages.
Once arriving at the CPP campus, Peeples plans on studying chemistry and his career aspiration is to become a pediatrician.
Christopher Rosales
Junior | Defender | Redwood City, Calif. | Foothill College
A tough defender, Christopher Rosales played two seasons for Foothill
College and guided the program to a No. 9 ranking at the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) junior college level. Along the
way, he collected All-Conference First Team recognition. In one of the
pivotal 2011 matchups, Rosales tallied the game-winning goal against
Evergreen Valley College.
A 2010 graduate of Saint Francis High School, Rosales helped the soccer
program capture a Central Coast Section title. The Redwood City native
plans on studying international business and architecture.
Anton Russell
Freshman | Defender/Midfielder | Claremont, Calif. | Damien High School
A versatile player, Anton Russell finished his Damien High School soccer
career with All-League First Team honors and helped the team top
Claremont to capture the Sierra League championship. A two-year varsity
starter on the soccer team, Russell also earned Honor Roll accolades all
four years for his work in the classroom.
Russell guided the Spartans of Damien High School to an overall record
of 14-8-2 during the 2011-12 season while the team posted an 8-2 mark in
conference play.
Tyler Swobe
Junior | Defender | Fresno, Calif. | Fresno City College
With five Fresno City College student-athletes transferring to CPP in
the past two years, Tyler Swobe continues the trend as he'll enter his
first season as a Bronco this fall. In 2011, he guided the Rams of FCC
to a conference championship and an overall mark of 11-6-6. Swobe, a
6-foot-1 defender, received All-Conference and FCC Scholar Award honors
in his final season with the Rams.
A 2009 graduate of Central East High School in Fresno, Swobe earned the
Tri-River Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolade as a
senior after lifting the team to a league title. He scored the penalty
kick that helped advance the program to its first Valley Championship. A
three-year letterwinner in soccer, Swobe collected All-League
recognition in two of those seasons.
Jeremy Winston
Freshman | Midfielder | Portland, Ore. | Beaverton High School
A current teammate of fellow signee Brandon Chatham, Jeremy Winston also
graduated June 14 from Beaverton High School in Oregon. A 5-foot-10
midfielder, Winston ranked second on the Beaverton squad in goals with
eight as a senior. During his junior season, he guided Beaverton to an
appearance in the state championship. Competing at the club level as
well, Winston helped his team reach the state cup match.
The Portland native also excelled in the classroom, garnering All-Metro
Academic All-Star recognition on two occasions and finishing as a
National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
