In a way, this is Year One for Gavilan men's soccer coach Albert Marques.
The former Gilroy High coach, who was on the sidelines for the Mustangs from 1999 to 2003, got a late start last year when he didn't get word of the Gavilan job until May.
It was the first time the Rams had a men's soccer program since 1989, said Gavilan athletic director Ron Hannon, and although Marques ended up being the new skipper for the Rams' 2007 campaign, there was very little time to recruit and rub elbows with the area's soccer talent.
"This year, I talked to a lot of players, established a lot of contacts," Marques said.
"This year, our recruiting was 100 percent better. The talent level is way up. The commitment level is night and day. Not to take anything away from last year's team, but the quality of play is much higher."
And although it's early in the season, the team is already 1-0. With just two wins and two ties to their name last season, the Rams have clearly kicked the year off on a better note than last.
Gavilan defeated Napa Valley College on the road 1-0 last Friday - the lone goal coming from the leg of Hector Salgado. It was certainly a strong start for the Rams, especially considering the team was without five starters who were absent from the game due to personal reasons, Marques said.
"We were low in numbers and we played well as a team," he said.
Last Wednesday was the first day of school at Gavilan and Marques said he got two more walk-ons at practice as a result. The Rams, which will certainly not be lacking in depth, will boast a 25-man roster this season.
Although strong up front, Marques did say two players, his starting goalie and one of his fullbacks, recently left the team due to work and class scheduling conflicts.
"But we've had other players step up," said Marques, who feels the team will only improve as the season progresses.
A pair of preseason scrimmages showed the second-year coach that the talent-level is there, but also that inconsistencies, where players pass and spread the field at one moment but play "kick ball" the next, come with the early-season storyline.
"The potential is there. The skills are there. We need to get the chemistry," Marques said. "That's the challenge. It's hard to say if we will be getting that chemistry soon, but it's still early.
"Players are starting to get very comfortable with each other. Gavilan College is improving and that's what we need to keep doing."
The Rams will return to the pitch on Tuesday when they will host West Hills College of Lemoore in Gilroy. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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