It’s not an overstatement to say the Cabrillo Jaguars are coming off of the most successful season in school history. They reached the first CIF Southern Section championship game ever, and then went on to win the first CIF State boys’ soccer title in Long Beach history.
However they didn’t win the league and coach Pat Noyes, who started the varsity team in 1991, creates a hungry personality for his program.
“Last season was frustration mixed with exhilaration,” Cabrillo coach Pay Noyes said. “I felt we were the best team in the league, but we lost games we should have won.. and the CIF final, we gave up a cheap goal… but obviously the State run was amazing and doing it at home was icing on the season.”
“The way we play isn’t much different (from last year) because our coach gives us our personality,” senior captain Eduardo Mosquueda said of Noyes. “He sets the tone and a winning mentality. If everyone has that we’re going to be successful. I think it’s going to be a really exciting year. The young guys coming up want to prove themselves and win a spot.”
Cabrillo has already lost a huge piece from last year in forward Arnold Giron, who led the league in scoring. He has taken his talents to LAFC this year to play on the developmental circuit.
“The team is happy for him,” Noyes said. “But it forces us to get multiple goals from multiple positions and players.”
Giron’s absence leaves Mosquueda as the most experienced forward on the roster, and he’ll be joined in leadership roles by senior defender Josue Garcia and senior goalkeeper Yancy Monterolla.
“I expect to compete in every game,” Noyes said. “We are very young, but talented. I’m not sure we can repeat last year but we will try.”
Noyes added that he’s expecting big things from freshman David Cruz and Chris Barcenas. They were both on the Washington city championship team. Juniors Abdulai Kamara, Jesus Guzman and Brandon Montecinos will also be key newcomers.
During the preseason Cabrillo will take a day trip to Catalina where they will play Avalon and run through team bonding experiences.
Mosquueda, who will get to play with his sophomore cousin Keith this year, said he learned valuable lessons in the extended postseason last year.
“You have to just keep on playing for 90 minutes because anything can happen,” Mosquueda said. “You can’t take anything for granted. Especially for my last year, any game could be my last game. I just want to (get into the playoffs) and expand it as long as I can.”
