Oakton Men’s Soccer Nationally Ranked in Two Preseason Polls

(August 11, 2015) Coming off a 13-2-1 season, Oakton men’s soccer team holds the distinction of being nationally ranked in two polls before the start of the 2015 campaign. The college’s men’s soccer program comes in at No. 19 in both the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Soccer National Top 20 Preseason Poll (released Aug. 3) and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Men’s Junior College Division I Preseason Rankings (announced Aug. 10).

“Being ranked in two preseason polls is a nice testament to last year’s squad,” said Head Men’s Soccer Coach Steve Brody, who enters his 16th year at the helm of Oakton’s illustrious program with an impressive 169-84-16 record. “That was the team that earned these preseason rankings. All this does is set the bar higher for our players this season.”

The 2014 Oakton men’s soccer program won the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) Men’s Soccer Championship (its seventh in 11 years) and advanced to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region IV Championships. The team’s stingy defense allowed just 20 goals on the season.

Brody is confident that this year’s squad can go as far, if not further, than the 2014 edition in the postseason. “We’ve been fortunate enough to put together, what is top to bottom, the strongest recruiting class we’ve ever had,” he said. “These players bring a skill level and athleticism that makes each one a potential starter.”

One of the standouts of that class is Francisco Arellano, a defender from Wheeling High School. As a senior, Arellano was team captain for the Wildcats and tallied 14 points (six goals, two assists). He helped anchor a defense that posted eight shutouts in 2014 for the Mid-Suburban East League title winners. He also garnered numerous postseason soccer awards in his final season including being named the Mid-Suburban League East Player of the Year, as well as making the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team, Mid-Suburban League All-Conference Team, and Daily Herald Northwest All-Area Team.

Another stellar recruit includes forward Tony Mosqueda (Leland High School, Michigan). A three-year starter at Leland, Mosqueda led the Comets to a 20-4-1 record in 2014.

Other incoming players include goalkeeper Luis Sedano (Steinmetz College Prep); defender Sebastian Bielecki (Maine South); and midfielders Daniel Silva (Maine West High School), Charlie Tolayo (Foreman High School), Maksym Andronenkov (Maine South High School), Armin Ogorinac (Mather High School), and Aidan Donaldson (Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute, Scarborough, Ontario).

Oakton opens the 2015 season at home against Malcolm X College on Sunday, Aug. 23.