CMS Men's Soccer Kicks Off 2023 with UC Santa Cruz Friday Night

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team will begin its first season under new head coach Edward Cartee when it faces the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Cartee joined the Stags after a successful run as an assistant at Trinity University in Texas, and he will look to continue the recent run of success at CMS. The Stags are 49-11-11 over the last four seasons, including three regular season SCIAC titles, compiling a 31-3-4 league mark in that span.

One of those seasons even saw CMS win an NCAA Regional at Trinity, when Cartee was on the opposing sideline, while the 2021 season saw the Stags go undefeated in the SCIAC, as well as unbeaten in regular season contests against Division III opponents, which the program had never done before. 

The Stags have a strong returning nucleus to help them continue on their successful path. Five of the top six scorers from last year's team are back, as well as both goalies who saw starting time a year ago. 

Kevin Box held down the starting goalkeeper role at the start of the 2022 season, and had an 0.87 goals against average. After he was injured, Daniel Kotkosky stepped in and compiled a 3-1-1 record in goal over his five starts. 

Defensively, senior Chase Keir is returning to his center back spot, while outside defenders Salvador Leon and Jacoby Lockman have seen plenty of game action for the Stags. Jake Allmon has played outside back as well, but could move up into the midfield, as his attacking pace has created a multitude of scoring opportunities over his career (seven goals, six assists).

Lukas Huntington is back as a holding midfielder, while several scoring weapons will play around him, including Rafael Otero, who has six career goals. Nico Monsalve scored three times a year ago out of the midfield, while Tommy Brown had the game-winning goal in the SCIAC Semifinals in 2021, and Liam O'Reilly had two goals and two assists as a first-year as well.  

Up top, Eric Sanchez is the top returning scorer for CMS with five goals a year ago, while John Laidlaw had a goal against Chapman and two in an exhibition game with Division II Academy of Art. Walsh Kern also had three goals and three assists as a first-year in 2021. 

After opening the season on Friday, CMS will travel to Willamette, to face the host Wildcats next weekend, followed by a neutral site game with Pacific Lutheran. The Stags will then open SCIAC play at home against Cal Lutheran on Wednesday, Sept. 13 (7 p.m.)