The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
In the Moore League, no sport can boast more parity than boys’ soccer. From top to bottom, every team is a threat on any given day, and the Top 4 playoff teams often have little to separate them.
Last season, five teams won six or more league games, including the Cabrillo Jaguars, who finished in fourth place–just one game out of second. Head coach Pat Noyes has built a consistent program with an entertaining style of play year in and year out, but postseason success has been difficult to maintain as the Jags’ reputation improves.
With a new playoff format that will slot teams into playoff divisions at the end of the season, it’s impossible to predict where Cabrillo might fall when brackets are released in early February. But after a tough draw into the Division 1 bracket to end their 2023-24 season, the Jags will look to get their young team ready for whatever comes their way this time around.
“In reality, with the size of our school being 1,700 kids versus the other teams in the league, you know, it’s a tough league,” said Noyes. “I think it’d be nice if we got in a lower division that was more equitable to our school size, but we’re gonna play every game like it’s a game to win. We’re not out there for anything other than trying to win.”
Just over the past decade, the Jags have been in the D1 bracket five times and in Division 2 four times. The one year they fell to Division 3 resulted in a pair of postseason wins and a quarterfinal appearance.
This year’s Cabrillo team will feature a ton of new faces, with only a few returning starters in the mix. Seniors Javi Palomares and Josue “Chewy” Torres will return to the midfield, with Palomares playing attacking mid and Torres in a more central position.
Palomares is a multi-sport athlete for Cabrillo, running cross country and also joining the football team as a kicker midseason. He ended up enjoying his role as a kicker and hopes to pursue that at the next level, but in the meantime his experience and leadership will be massive for Cabrillo’s chances on the soccer field.
“The team is looking very young this year, still missing some pieces, but with hard work and dedication, we could get through it,” Palomares said. “I think this year, our team has a lot of heart and we could push through any game.”
A new senior joining the program is Josue Villalalta, who Noyes describes as a big, sturdy player who will slot in at defensive mid.
The Jags have a talented sophomore class that will be called upon to contribute this season, with a handful of likely starters. Jardiel Ponce and Jhostin Poveda should help spur the attack for Cabrillo while fellow 10th graders Juan Ruiz, Fidel Perez and Devinson Godoy will be on the back line.
Senior Saul Gonzalez is expected to start up top at forward as one of just four seniors in the starting 11. Junior Alan Fuentes will also be in the mix for the young squad, and junior Nelson Beltran will start in goal after working his way up through the program.
A key addition to this year’s team will be on the coaching staff, where Cabrillo alum Pedro Chavez has returned as assistant coach. Chavez is a 2007 Cabrillo graduate who also played for Noyes at LBCC before attending the University of Great Falls in Montana.
Noyes praised the work his team has put in during the offseason, both in conditioning and while training under Chavez’s supervision. He’s hoping that their physical improvements can help offset some of their inexperience as a group.
“We’re gonna be fit, and we’re going to high pressure, and then hopefully we can create goals from that,” Noyes said. “We’re going to be much better than we’ve been in the past on set plays, because, to be frank, Pedro’s a much better set play coach than me. I just want the ball served in the box and go win it, which is kind of short-sighted, but that’s just the way I’ve always been. He’s really been setting up plays, so I think we’ll be better there as well.”
The Jags open their season with their annual trip to Catalina Island to take on Avalon, and also have their customary trip up to Big Bear on Dec. 10. The schedule isn’t as grueling as it’s been in recent seasons as Noyes is looking to get his young team up to speed early and ready for Moore League action.
When the dust settles, the Jags will tackle whichever playoff division they’re dealt. But first things first is achieving their primary goal of a Top 4 spot in the league, which guarantees them a chance to play postseason soccer.
