EOU Men’s Soccer Has Big Plans for the 2022 Season
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) The Cascade Collegiate Conference preseason rankings have the EOU Men’s Soccer team ranked seventh as they head into the 2022 season. The Mountaineers are looking to continue their steady improvement under third-year head coach, Jessy Watson. EOU took a step forward last year finishing with a 6-10 record in 2021, going 6-7 in conference play. They remain optimistic with their progress and will look to make a run in the conference tournament like they did in 2019.
The Mounties will look to bring back a more experienced team for the upcoming season. They will have 18 upperclassmen this year compared to 13 heading into 2021. EOU only lost two
starters, goalkeeper Noah Gallow and midfielder Rui Tsubakihara, and will return a roster with 19 former letterwinners.
“We have done a lot of work to develop, and bring in quality players,” Coach Jessy Watson said. “Our expectations are to qualify for the CCC Tournament and a chance for a conference title.”
EOU returns all of their All-CCC players for 2022 as well. That list includes Dalton Mauzay (SR), Erick Diaz (SR), and Carlos Murillo (JR). Mauzay earned second team All-CCC honors at goalkeeper where he posted a .841 save percentage, ranking third in the CCC. Diaz was named to the All-CCC honorable mention list for his efforts as a defender for the Mounties in a season where he scored a game winner and anchored a defense that posted four shutouts during the 2021 campaign. Lastly, Murillo nabbed All-CCC honorable mention honors for his play as a midfielder last season.
