Cerritos College Men’s Soccer coach Benny Artiaga had some strong feelings about last soccer season.

“Last year was absolute failure, ” said Artiaga when asked about last season.

The 2015-16 men’s soccer season was the first time in the years since Artiaga took over as head coach that the team had not advanced to the post-season.

Although the the team lost a key player and team captain in Christian Carrillo Artiaga has high hopes for this season.

He said, “We have very key players in Luis Garcia our attacking center mid. We have Austin [De Medeiros] returning.”

“Probably are most important player coming back […] is Ivan [Vasquez] our center back from last year. He has the leadership experience.”

He also mentioned the return of a few redshirt sophomores, such as Jose Mora and Edwin Corona, who were on the 2014 state championship team.

The team had a snail’s pace start last season going 0-5-2 during the preseason.

“Even though we did not make playoffs we closed the season really strong,” Artiaga said.

The Falcons ended the season in third place and a five game shutout missing the playoffs by just one game.

“We played well at times. We ended up losing late, or blowing leads or [were] unable to hold leads. This year I don’t foresee that happening,” he said.

Continuing off the momentum the team had at the end of last season, this season hopes are to show they are still a dominant force on the field.

As opposed to last year this team is stacked with experience, athleticism and cohesion.

“In retrospect, it is probably a good thing [that they redshirted]. Now we are loaded with experience,” he said.

Experience will be essential with the team having, in Artiagas opinion, one of the toughest in the state.

“With they way our preseason you get punished for making mistakes,” he says, “Our lack of depth and our lack of experience ultimately what did us in.”

With the powerful, attacking strategy Coach Artiaga always plays the team is now in the condition to successfully carry it out.

New goalkeeper, Ivan del Campo says, “The team chemistry is divine.”

With the team’s first game coming up quickly the only game plan they have going in is to smash Citrus College.

“This year, from day one, we are going to show we are the top team in the state of California,” said Artiaga.

For any team the ultimate goal of any season is to win the title, but Artiaga sees winning as something that means much more.

He says, “A state title will open up so many more doors. Thats means our team will have come together.”

So the bar for this season, and for any season, is to bring home the state championship.

While Artiaga feels effort and participation are key things it does not show the growth and success of the team.

“Last year, even our freshman saw that our system works and that you can have good results,” he said, “You just [have to] believe in what we are doing.”

Del Campo said, “[I’m] just excited how much better it can get as our journey continues.”