Sports season updates

TEAMS STRUGGLE IN EARLY SEASON GAMES

The Dons enter the regular season this week. With the women’s soccer team going 1-4 in the preseason and their male counterparts going 2-0-2, the locker rooms are buzzing with season predictions and talk of championships.

In football, the Dons have had upset games the past week, winning their home opener 38-20 against the College of the Desert while the men’s soccer team shut out the visiting Oxnard Condors Sept. 7.

While some teams enjoy the feeling of victory, others look for their first win of the regular season. After a 21-3 blowout loss to the Riverside Tigers, the Dons women’s water polo team search for their first win.

Expect a lot from both men’s and women’s water polo teams this season, while the men’s soccer team looks for another winning year under Head Coach Jose Vasquez.

WATERPOLO OFF TO A SPLASHY START

MATHIS, KOBEL KEY TO 4-1 START FOR H20 POLO

With a strong start to the season the Dons suffered their first loss against the visiting Riverside Tigers on Wednesday, putting them at 4-1.

Micah Mathis leads the team with seventeen goals and four assists.

Mathis, however, is not a key figure on the defensive side of the ball, making only six steals.

With no clear defensive standouts, outside of Goalkeeper Wes Kobel, the team will need to step up their game.

OROZCO’S FOUR GOALS LEADS MEN’S SOCCER

Dons Forward Ivan Orozco enters the regular season making a team-leading four goals during the preseason.

Coupled with Orozco’s aggressive style, the Dons look to use speed and intelligent play sets as they have in the past.

“We know that SAC plays fast and they have a strong group of forwards who are very aggressive on the ball,” Palomar Goalkeeper Tad Caraway said after a recent home game against the Dons.

The team can’t make mental errors and must stay focused during games, not letting mistakes lower team morale.

“When we make mistakes like an own goal, it will bring down the morale of the team. We can’t have that,” Head Coach Jose Vasquez said.

WOMEN’S SOCCER OFF TO A 1-5 START

The Dons had a disappointing preseason and started the regular season with a loss to the Golden West Rustlers.

To succeed this season, they will need to play the ball more aggressively and set up Forward Kristina Alatorre for more shot opportunities.

“We have a lot of great leaders on the field, and Kristina has really stepped up to that role being a leader on and off the field,” Co-Head Coach Jose Vasquez said.

The Dons suffer from a lack of communication on the field, creating a weaker defense.

“We need more communication on the field if we are to be successful. Communication is what it takes to win,” Co-Head Coach Jessica Rapoza said.