2009 Season Recap
The Foothill College Men’s Soccer Team finished the 2009 season with a record of 15-4-2. They ended up ranked 4th in Northern California and 7th in California. This team scored 64 goals and only allowed 23 goals against. Though these numbers were impressive, there was something else that set this team apart from other community college soccer programs in the United States. Foothill College Soccer is a truly diverse program. There were 3 English players, 6 Swedish players, 2 Brazilians, a Norwegian and one from Kazakhstan. These international student athletes blended beautifully with our 13 local players of various ethnicities. These athletes from different backgrounds loved playing together and spending time off the field with one and other. Lifelong friendships were born between young men who if not for their love of the game and Foothill College, would have never met. It is this, above all, which separates Foothill College Soccer from any other program.
Foothill had many standout players in the 2009 season. Team captain, George Mendoza who held down the midfield and tallied 6 goals and 13 assists, led this team. George earned All-America by the NSCAA. George will be playing for Cal Poly, Pomona in the fall of 2010 on Scholarship. Daniel Meade from Oxford, England played through a lot of pain all season. He was the difference in many games. Daniel had 9 goals and 5 assists but several of his nine goals were game winners. Daniel has been offered to play at over 12 division 1 universities. Peter Davies from London, England played mostly right midfield in 2009 and will be playing for Montana State University on a Full Scholarship in 2010. Aaron Gonzalez from East London, England, along with Naveed Abaie from Millbrae, California were instrumental in keeping the defense organized and earned All Conference. Both are second year All-Conference players and will continue their soccer and education next season at the Division 1 level. Jonathan Mathaisson from Karlstad, Sweden, played left back. He played every minute of every game and was outstanding for the Owls. On the other side of the defense was Mikael Einarsson, from Eskilstuna, Sweden. Mikael played with passion and was tremendous at stopping the opponent’s attack. Sylvester Gyan, from Stockholm, Sweden, impressed everyone with his speed and ability to win balls in midfield. William Viklund, from Harnosand, Sweden contributed by scoring 6 goals and being a great target forward. Alex Palomarez from Fremont, California, played in goal for the Owls. He recorded 8 shutouts and was voted, “Goalkeeper of the Year”. He and Robin Soderblom from Norrkoping, Sweden battled all season for the number one spot. They both pushed each other and elevated they play of team by making one dynamic save after another. Brazilian twin brothers, Paulo and Pedro Mendes, led Foothill’s attack. Having shared time in the same whom and room together has allowed each brother to know what the other is thinking on the pitch. Paulo tallied 19 goals and had 15 assists in 2009. He ranked #3 in California in scoring with 53 points. He also was voted NSCAA All-West. Pedro Mendes scored 18 goals and had 10 assists and was ranked #6 in California with 46 points. Paulo and Pedro were 1st Team All-Conference in 2009.
The 2009 soccer season ended with a loss in the Northern California Semi-Finals. Though the goal of the team was to win the State Championship, this team achieved on and off the field. We look forward to the 2010 season and will have more amazing young men continuing the great tradition set by those who have played before them. Go Owls!
Player Enrollment
Interested in trying to play for Foothill College Soccer in the fall of 2009? Please make contact with Coach Liner as soon as possible. Send him an email, give him a call or complete the online Recruiting form.
Important Dates
- All OUT OF TOWN STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN TOWN BY AUGUST 7, 2010!
OFFICIAL TRYOUTS BEGIN AUGUST 15th at 8:30 A.M. on the SOCCER FIELD.
- Spring training Monday- Thursday 1:30 on the soccer field
Coach Tom Liner
c/o Athletic Department
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA. 94022-4599
Phone: (650) 949-7464
LinerThomas@foothill.edu
