Notre Dame de Namur University

Men's Soccer

Argos Fall in Season Opener to Cal Poly Pomona

September 2 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team struggled in their 2010 season opener, falling to Cal Poly Pomona 3-0. The Argos surrendered all three goals in a 13 minute stretch in the second half.

The game started off back and forth with the Argos and Broncos trading shots in the opening minutes. CPP then took control, outshooting NDNU 6-3 in the first half but the game remained scoreless heading into halftime. Isiah Castro made four saves for the Argonauts in the first half.

The Broncos came out firing in the second half, netting the first goal in the 48th minute when Sam Morales scored on a strike from 40 yards out. Seven minutes later, Luis Gonzalez added a second goal as he found himself in front of the net and punched the ball through. Anthony Salcedo gave his team a three-goal cushion when he picked up a loose ball and took in from the left side to the right from 25 yards.

The Argos were outshot 18-8 for the game and managed just four shot on goal. The Broncos also held a 12-3 advantage on corner kicks.

NDNU is back in action Saturday afternoon when they take on UC San Diego at 4:30 pm. BOX SCORE

Three Argos Named to Preseason All-PacWest Team
Argos Tabbed to Finish Third

August 30 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team had three juniors selected to the Preseason All-Pacific West Conference Team on Monday. The team, which was announced during Media Day, features forward Cristobal Montes and midfielders Arturo Gomez and Christian Rosales.

Montes (Fremont, CA/John F. Kennedy HS) earned All-PacWest First Team honors the last two seasons and was named the 2008 Player and Newcomer of the Year claimed a spot on the squad after his outstanding 2009 campaign. Last season he started 20 of his team’s 21 games, finishing the season ranked fourth in the PacWest in goals scored (10), tied for eighth in assists (4), and fifth in total points with 24. He also tied for third in game-winning goals with four and finished the campaign fourth in the PacWest in points per game (1.14) and goals per game (0.48). He also earned Second Team All-West Region honors a sophomore after being named to the First Team as a freshman.

Along with Montes, junior midfielders Arturo Gomez (San Diego, CA / Castle Park HS) and Christian Rosales (Redwood City, CA / St. Francis HS) were both selected to the preseason team after garnering All-Conference honors last season.

Gomez was named Second Team All-PacWest last season after an excellent sophomore campaign. He really turned it on in Conference play last season, scoring all seven of his goals over the final nine games of the season. Gomez finished second on the team with seven goals while leading the Argos in assists with five. He ranked in the top-10 in the PacWest in goals, assists, points and game-winning goals. Gomez was also named to the All-West Region Second Team last season
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Rosales was selected to the Second Team last season after earning Honorable Mention status last as a freshman. Rosales started 20 games for NDNU as a sophomore in the midfield and registered two goals and two assists. He was also named the team’s Most Valuable Player last season.

The Argonauts finished second in the Pacific West last season after finishing conference play with a 10-2-2 record. NDNU picked up two first place votes but were selected to finish third behind Grand Canyon and Hawaii Pacific.

Montes and Gomez Add All-Region Honors

November 23 - Sophomores Cristobal Montes and Arturo Gomez earned further recognition this week as both were named Second Team All-West Region. Both Montes and Gomez were named First Team All-PacWest last week.

Montes (Fremont, CA / John F. Kennedy HS) earned All-West Region honors for the second straight year after being selected as a First Team member last season. Montes led the Argonauts in scoring with 10 goals and 24 points and finished second on the team in assists with four. He ranked fourth in the PacWest in goals scored (10), tied for eighth in assists (4), and finished the season fifth in total points with 24.

Gomez (San Diego, CA / Castle Park HS) earned his first appearance on the All-West Region team with an excellent season in the midfield. Gomez exploded when he moved into the starting lineup for the final nine games, scoring all seven of his goals over that time period. He finished second on the team with seven goals while leading the Argos in assists with five. Gomez also ranked in the top-10 in the PacWest in goals, assists, points and game-winning goals.

The Argonauts finished the season 10-9-2 overall and placed second in the PacWest with a 10-2-2 conference record. The ten wins gave NDNU its twelfth consecutive winning season and twelfth straight year with at least ten victories.

Four Argonauts Earn All-PacWest Accolades

November 18 – Sophomores Cristobal Montes and Arturo Gomez highlighted a group of four Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer players that garnered All-Pacific West Conference honors this season. Montes and Gomez both earned First Team All-Conference accolades after finishing first and second on the team in scoring.

In addition to Montes and Gomez, sophomore midfielder Christian Rosales was named to the Second Team while Russell McCluskey garnered Honorable Mention status.

Montes (Fremont, CA / John F. Kennedy HS) repeated as a First Team All-Conference selection after being named PacWest Player of the Year in 2008. He once again led the Argonauts in scoring with 10 goals and 24 points and finished second on the team in assists with four. Montes ranked fourth in the PacWest in goals scored (10), tied for eighth in assists (4), and finished the season fifth in total points with 24. He also tied for third in game-winning goals with four, was a perfect 2 for 2 on penalty kicks, and finished the campaign fourth in the PacWest in points per game (1.14) and goals per game (0.48).

Gomez (San Diego, CA / Castle Park HS) earned his first appearance on the All-Conference team with an excellent season in the midfield. Gomez really turned it on in Conference play, scoring all seven of his goals over the final nine games of the season. He finished second on the team with seven goals while leading the Argos in assists with five. Gomez also ranked in the top-10 in the PacWest in goals, assists, points and game-winning goals.

Rosales (Redwood City, CA / St. Francis HS) was selected to the Second Team after earning Honorable Mention status last season as a freshman. Rosales started 20 games for NDNU this season in the midfield and registered two goals and two assists.

McCluskey (Salt Lake City, UT / Brighton HS) was a staple on defense for the Argonauts this season, earning an All-PacWest Honorable Mention selection. He started 16 games on the year after moving from right back to sweeper at the start of the season. McCluskey also recorded one assist on the season.

Argos Rebound, Handle Dominican 3-1

October 29 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team rebounded from Tuesday’s tough loss with a 3-1 victory over Dominican. The Argos improved to 9-2-1 in PacWest play and are in sole possession of second place.

Chris Arceo got NDNU on the board in the 16th minute when he volleyed in a corner kick from Arturo Gomez. The Penguins responded in the 21st minute when Alec Ziegler scored off a throw-in.

After the game moved into halftime still tied, the Argonauts came out strong with a goal in the opening minute of the second half. The Penguins tried to head the ball back to their keeper who misplayed it and allowed Arturo Gomez to pick up the easy goal. Less than five minutes later, Cristobal Montes gave the Argos an insurance goal when he hammered home a cross from Christian Cannavina.

Joseph Mora earned the win for NDNU with two stops while the Argos scored on all three of their shots on goal.

The Argos are back in action next week when then travel to Phoenix to take on conference leader Grand Canyon. BOX SCORE

Argos Fall in Closing Second to Hawaii Pacific

October 26 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team dropped a heartbreaker to Hawaii Pacific 2-1 on a goal by the Sea Warriors with 14 seconds left. The Argos had their five game winning streak snapped but remain in second place in the PacWest with an 8-2-1 record.

The Sea Warriors struck first in an evenly played first half when Chance Bukoski ran down a through ball and beat goalie Joseph Mora. After the score moved into the second half with HPU still leading, the Argonauts evened the score in the 52nd minute.

Arturo Gomez knotted the game at 1-1 after drilling a free kick from just outside the box past Matt Terry. The game continued to be a back and forth contest until the Sea Warriors found the net with 14 second left. Kimo Komomua played in a streaking Ikaika Fuerte, who lifted a pass to the back post that Alan Albertazzi volleyed into the net for the win.

Mora made five stops for NDNU while Terry picked up a pair of saves and earned the win for Hawaii Pacific.

The Argonauts return to the mainland for a PacWest match against Dominican on Thursday. BOX SCORE

Montes Nets Incredible Goal, Argos Topple Hilo 2-1

October 23 – On a day where the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team picked up their fourth straight victory, it was Cristobal Montes’s second half goal that stole the show. Montes scored two seconds into the half to give the Argos the eventual game winning goal in a 2-1 win over Hawaii Hilo.

The first half was very evenly played as the score moved into the final ten minutes still scoreless. Christian Rosales would then put NDNU on the board in the 40th minute on an assist from Jorge Serrano. Rosales fielded the header off his chest on the run and one-timed the ball past goalie Ivan Mercado for the score.

After the game moved to halftime with the Argos up 1-0, Montes gave NDNU an important insurance goal. On the opening kick of the half, Luis Astorga touched the ball to Montes who drilled the shot from midfield. The ball dove at the last second and beat the keeper for a goal two second into the half.

The Vulcans would cut the lead in half in the 83rd minute on a goal by Vincent Muscarella but it would prove to be too little too late.

Joseph Mora earned the victory in net for NDNU with five saves while Mercado and Dane Kaylor combined for three stops for UHH.

NDNU improved to 7-1-1 in PacWest play and remain in sole possession of second place in the conference. The Argos head to Laie on Saturday to take on BYU Hawaii in the second game of their road trip. BOX SCORE

Argos Rout Chaminade 5-0

October 14 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team continued their hot play with a 5-0 victory over Chaminade. The Argos improved to 6-1-1 in the PacWest and have outscored their opponents 11-1 in their last three games.

Arturo Gomez got the scoring started for the Argos with a goal in the 14th minute, giving him four in the past three games. He fielded a cross from Cristobal Montes at the near post, took one dribble and beat goalie Daniel Dartt. Chris Arceo gave NDNU a two goal lead one minute and eighteen seconds later when his free kick deflected off a defender and into the net.

The Argos were not done in the first half as Jorge Serrano netted his first career goal with sixteen seconds left before the break. For the half, the Argos held a 12-3 shot advantage.

The second half was much of the same as Montes put the Argos up 4-0 on a breakaway goal in the 59th minute. Serrano would tack on another with a header in the 85th minute to end the scoring at 5-0.

Isiah Castro earned his second shutout of the season by making five saves while Dartt and Darren Smith made one apiece for Chaminade.

The Argos closed out their home schedule and head to Hawaii next week for three game. BOX SCORE

Three Late Goals Lift Argos Past Vulcans

October 12 – Despite playing a man down for the final 55 minutes, the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team pulled off an impressive 3-1 victory over Hawaii Hilo. The Argos held a 13-10 shot advantage while improving to 5-1-1 in PacWest play with the victory.

The Argos and Vulcans battled closely throughout the first half with neither team able to put a score up on the board. NDNU nearly took the lead twice in a two minute span as Christian Rosales and Jacob Zavala both banged shots off the frame. The game turned in the 35th minute when Giovanni Linares picked up his second yellow card, forcing the Argos to play a man down for the remained of the game.

The game stayed scoreless into the final 25 minutes when the NDNU offense broke out. The Argos took a 1-0 lead in the 69th minute when Arturo Gomez buried a shot from the right side. However, Hawaii Hilo knotted the score one minute and seven seconds later on a header from Logan Montenegro off a corner kick.

Less than three minutes later, NDNU struck again when Gomez sent a through ball to Cristobal Montes who launched the shot from outside of the box and around goalie Ivan Mercado for the score. Rosales added a very important insurance goal in the 77th minute when he received a header from Gomez and drilled the ball into the upper right corner.

Joseph Mora picked up the win for NDNU with four saves, including an excellent stop from point blank range in second half to keep the score tied. Mercado did his best to keep the Vulcans in it, making five saves.

The Argos close out their home schedule on Wednesday when they take on Chaminade at 4:00 pm. BOX SCORE

Argos Blank Hawaii Pacific

October 10 – A pair of underclassman stole the show on Senior Day as the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team toppled Hawaii Pacific 3-0. Sophomore Arturo Gomez scored a pair of goals while freshman Christian Cannavina tallied the third to help the Argos improve to 4-1-1 in PacWest play.

NDNU controlled the ball for most of the game, outshooting the Sea Warriors 13-5 and making it very difficult for the visitors to get a good look at the net. HPU managed just one shot on goal for the game as Joseph Mora recorded his first career shutout.

Gomez put the Argos on the board in the 25th minute when he received a pass from Christian Rosales at the top right corner of the box. After a fake cleared some room, Gomez fired a shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Cannavina gave the Argos a two goal cushion just under five minutes later when he scored his first career goal. Cristobal Montes sent a pass through the defense to a streaking Cannavina who then beat a charging Matt Terry for the goal.

With the two goal lead, the NDNU defense clamped down while the offense kept the pressure up. Gomez would add his second goal of the game in the 86th minute when he headed come Luis Astorga’s cross for the third and final goal.

The Argos are back in action Monday when they take on Hawaii Hilo at Koret Field for a 4:00 pm start. BOX SCORE

Argos and Seasiders Battle to 2-2 Tie

October 8 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team erased a pair of one goal deficits to earn a 2-2 tie with BYU Hawaii. The Argos moved to 3-1-1 in PacWest play with the tie while the Seasiders sit at 1-3-1.

The Argos controlled the ball for most of the game, holding a 23-11 shot advantage and nearly taking a 1-0 lead early in the contest. Cristobal Montes nearly put the Argos up with a chip over the charging goalie but the ball was cleared by a BYUH defender just before it went into the net. BYU Hawaii would then get on the board first, scoring in the 25th minute on a header by Sam Akinaka.

Cole Travis tied the score at 1-1 in the 37th minute when Scott Sweetnam sent a long ball to the back post. Travis finished off the pass with a header for his fourth goal of the season.

The game stayed tied into the second half when Sweetnam picked up his second yellow card in the 63rd minute, forcing the Argos to play a man down. The Seasiders took advantage, taking a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute when William Barber drilled home a free kick from 25 yards out.

In the 82nd minute, Derek Stransky picked up his second yellow evening the players on the field at 10-10. On the ensuing free kick, Nathan Carlson sent a long ball towards the net that snuck past everyone and rolled into the net.

The Seasiders nearly took the lead back in the 88th minute when Todd Everette took a shot from five yards out. However, Isiah Castro made a diving stop to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

The overtimes featured three shots from each team with both coming up empty. Castro made three saves for NDNU while Cory Cosgrave recorded four, including a big stop in the first overtime.

NDNU is back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Hawaii Pacific. The Argos will also honor their seven seniors in a ceremony set to take place right before the 1:30 pm start. BOX SCORE

Argos Offense Sparks 3-1 Victory

October 2 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team held a 19-7 shot advantage as they downed PacWest rival Dominican 3-1 to improve to 3-1 in conference play.

The Argos turned the heat up early on, controlling the ball for most of the first half and scoring in the 11th minute. After Russell McCluskey sent a ball into the corner, Cristobal Montes took it away from the keeper and bent it into the net for a goal. The goal was Montes’s team leading fifth of the season.

The second half was much of the same as NDNU kept the offensive pressure up. The Argos nearly added a second goal in the 72nd minute when Luis Astorga ripped a shot off the post that was followed up by Arturo Gomez who also hit the post. Astorga got his goal in the 84th minute when Chris Arceo sent a corner to the back post where Dominic Sroka fielded the ball and sent it back in front of the net. Astorga then headed the ball past goalie Matt Carson to give NDNU a 2-0 lead.

Forty-two seconds later, NDNU added a third goal when Gomez sent a long cross to Cole Travis who volleyed the ball out of the air and into the right corner of the net. Dominican answered back 29 seconds later when Diego Guevara scored on a penalty kick after an Argonaut handball. However, that would be as close as the Penguins would get as NDNU closed out the game strong.
Joseph Mora picked up his second win with three saves.

The Argos are back in action next Thursday when BYU Hawaii comes to Koret Field for a PacWest Conference match. BOX SCORE

Three Second Half Goals Lift Grand Canyon Past Argonauts

September 29 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team suffered their first defeat in PacWest play with a 3-0 loss to Grand Canyon. The Argos surrendered three second half goals and fell to 2-1 in conference while the Antelopes moved into first place at 3-0.

The first half was evenly played for the first 40 minutes with each team recording four shots. However, NDNU turned up the offensive pressure for final five minutes, taking four shots but coming away empty handed. Christian Rosales and Cristobal Montes each had opportunities to score but were turned away by goalie Ben Paneccasio.

The second half was a different story as the Antelopes broke through in the 57th minute on a goal by Harvey Martinez. Martinez took a back post feed from Kyle Ciliento and slid the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead. In the 74th minute Nathan Wassan added a goal when he hit a failed clear out of the air and into the top right corner of the net. Ciliento would add an insurance goal in less than two minutes later when he dribbled through the NDNU defense and beat a charging Isiah Castro.

For the game, NDNU held a 14-11 shot advantage but were stopped by Paneccasio who picked up the shutout with three saves.

The Argos continue PacWest play on Friday afternoon when they take on Dominican at Koret Field. BOX SCORE

Argos Topple Urban Knights Again

September 24 – For the second time in five days the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team defeated Academy of Art on a penalty kick by Cristobal Montes. Unlike Saturday, this time Montes netted the game winner in regulations as the Argos won 1-0.

The first half did not feature many scoring chances as the two teams combined for six shots, five of which came from NDNU. Urban Knight goalie Daniel Waller made an excellent save on Arturo Gomez late in the half to send the game into the half still scoreless.

The Argonaut offense picked up in the second half with nine shots, including four on frame. In the 75th minute NDNU finally broke through. After a nice run by Christian Cannavina he sent a pass to Christian Rosales who centered it to an open Cole Travis. Travis then sent a pass into the box where Montes fielded it but was shoved by an Urban Knight defender. Montes then stepped up to the penalty kick and drilled it into the upper left corner to give NDNU the victory.

Isiah Casto earned his first career shutout with two saves while Waller and Ian Sutherland combined for four saves for AAU.

The Argos continue PacWest play on Monday when Grand Canyon comes to Koret Field at 4:00 pm. BOX SCORE

Argos Open PacWest Play with Overtime Win

September 19 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team put one in the win column with a 3-2 overtime victory against Academy of Art. With the win, the Argos moved to 1-0 in PacWest play.

The fist half was very close throughout, with each team having several scoring chances. Both teams were awarded penalty kicks in the first four minute but neither could capitalize. NDNU struck first in the 40th minute when Christian Rosales sent a ball to Kellen Coffis at the top of the box. Coffis then drilled the shot into the upper left corner for a 1-0 advantage. The Urban Knights responded a few minutes later when Daniel Higa ran down a ball and beat a charging Isiah Castro.

The Argonaut offense picked it up in the second half, holding an 11-5 shot advantage. Cole Travis gave NDNU a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute when he tapped home a cross from Cristobal Montes. With the game winding down, AAU turned up the offense pressure, evening the score in the 86th minute when Higa once again chipped the ball over the charging goalie.

The game moved into overtime as the Argos controlled throughout. After a near goal by Montes on a breakaway, he got another chance but was tripped in the box by a defender. Montes then drilled home the penalty kick to end the game and give BJ Noble his first win as the NDNU coach.

For the game, the Argos outshot the Urban Knights 20-10, including an 11-6 shot on goal advantage. Castro and Joey Mora combined to make four saves while Daniel Waller and Ian Sutherland recorded eight for AAU.

The Argos and Knights meet again on Thursday at Kezar Stadium for their second and final meeting of the season. BOX SCORE

Argonaut Comeback Falls Short

September 11 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team nearly pulled of an impressive comeback before falling 2-1 to Simon Fraser. The Argos trailed 2-0 with just under 20 minutes remaining but pulled within one and nearly tied the game on several occasions.

The first half was evenly played throughout with the Argos holding a 7-6 shot advantage but the Clan leading 1-0. Simon Fraser got on the board in the 20th minute after a header bounced off the keeper and was put home by Farhad Abdulgani. The Argos nearly scored a few minutes earlier but Cole Travis’s shot deflected off the post and was cleared out of bounds.

The second half featured even more scoring chances as Simon Fraser racked up 11 shots and the Argos took eight. Roman Doutkevitch gave the Clan a cushion in the 59th minute on a goal from the top of the box.

NDNU would not quit however, turning the offense pressure up and eventually cutting the lead in half with just under 20 minutes to play. Nathan Carlson sent a ball into the box from the right wing which hit the hand of a defender, giving the Argos a penalty kick. Chris Arceo would then drill the shot into the top right corner to give NDNU new life.

The Argonaut pressure continued as Travis almost knotted to score on a cross from Cristobal Montes. A few minutes later, Kellen Coffis’s header banged off the cross bar and was cleared by Simon Fraser to preserve the victory.

Joseph Mora made four saves for NDNU while Hide Ozawa came up with four for Simon Fraser. Montes led all players with nine shots.

The Argos are back in action Wednesday evening when they travel to San Jose to take on the San Jose State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. BOX SCORE

Argos Stunned on Goal in Closing Seconds of Overtime

September 4 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team dropped a tough one to UC San Diego, falling with just 15 second left in overtime. The Argos took a 1-0 lead into the closing minutes of regulation but could not hold off the Tritons.

After a scoreless first half that saw each team compile six shots, the game picked up in the second. Cristobal Montes scored his second goal of the season in the 56th minute when he took a feed from Nathan Carlson and beat the UCSD keeper.

Shane Micheil knotted the game at 1-1 with just over two minute remaining when he came away from a scrum in front of the net and hammered the ball home.

The Tritons carried their momentum into overtime as they recorded 5 shots while holding the Argos to zero. Micheil would once again strike, this time with just 15 second left to end the game.

The Argos are back in action Sunday afternoon when they take on Sonoma State. BOX SCORE

Argos Drop to Cal Poly Pomona on Two Penalty Kicks

August 30 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team battled into two overtimes before falling to Cal Poly Pomona on a penalty kick with 3:20 remaining. The Argos held a 15-10 shot advantage.

The Argos jumped ahead early in the 12th minute when Cristobal Montes beat Thomas Ryan on a breakaway. Joseph Mora started the play with a punt before Cole Travis flicked it past the defense to Montes. Montes pushed the ball past the charging goalie before tracking down the ball and finishing the goal.

Cal Poly Pomona evened the score in the 37th minute on a penalty kick by Miguel Abascal. The two teams fought hard throughout the second half but neither could capitalize on their scoring chances. After another scoreless period, the game moved to a second overtime where the Broncos got a penalty kick opportunity. Abascal once again took advantage as he beat goalie Isiah Castro to end the game.

Mora made five saves for NDNU while Ryan and Brad Jones combined to make seven stops for CPP.

The Argos are back in action Tuesday when they travel to face San Francisco State at 2:30 pm. BOX SCORE

Argoa Fall to CSU San Bernardino 5-1

August 28 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team did not get the start they wanted as they dropped their 2009 season opener to CSU San Bernardino 5-1. The Argos struggled defensively as the Coyotes scored the games final four goals.

CSUSB got on the board in the 3rd minute when Danny Rodriguez’s corner kick failed to be cleared and was kicked in by an Argonaut defender. NDNU tied the game up eight minutes later when Cole Travis fired a shot from outside the box into the top right corner.

The score did not remained tied very long with Rodriguez converting a penalty kick in the 18th minute to put the Coyotes up for good. The second half was much of the same as CSU San Bernardino added goals in the 56th, 67th and 83rd minutes to push the margin to 5-1. Rodriguez tacked on one of the goals while Julian Garcia and Albert Cabrera each netted one as well.

Goalie Joseph Mora made four saves for NDNU while Arath De La Rocha stopped four for the visitors.

The Argos are back in action Sunday afternoon when they take on Cal Poly Pomona at 1:30 pm. The game will mark the return of former Head Coach Lance Thompson who is in his first season with the Broncos. BOX SCORE

Montes Named Pac-West Preseason Player of the Year
Argos Tabbed to Finish Third

August 20 – After an outstanding freshman campaign, forward Cristobal Montes was selected as the Pacific West Preseason Player of the Year for this upcoming season while the Argos were picked to finish third.

Montes (Fremont, CA/John F. Kennedy HS) was named the 2008 PacWest Player of the Year, PacWest Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference accolades last season. In addition, Montes garnered First Team All-West Region honors while leading the Argonauts to their first NCAA Tournament appearance. He turned in one of the most impressive seasons in school history with a conference leading 14 goals, 33 points and 7 game-winning goals. Montes recorded at least one point in 16 of 21 games last season, including a six game streak to close out the regular season. He also ranked in the top-50 nationally in goals per game and points per game.

Along with Montes, senior defender Oswaldo Hernandez (Shafter, CA/Liberty HS) and junior midfielder Nathan Carlson also earned Preseason All-Conference selections. Hernandez earned First Team All-PacWest and Second Team All-West Region honors last season after anchoring a defense that ranked ninth in the nation.

Carlson (Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) appeared in all 21 games last year and finished with two goals and four assists.

The Argonauts won the PacWest last season after finishing with a 9-1-2 conference record and a 14-4-3 overall record. NDNU picked up two first place votes but were selected to finish behind Grand Canyon and Hawaii Pacific.

NDNU Names New Director of Soccer
BJ Noble hired to lead the men’s and women’s soccer programs

April 13 – The Notre Dame de Namur University athletic department has announced the hiring of BJ Noble as the new Director of Soccer.

Noble comes to NDNU after spending the last two seasons at the helm of the Millikin University men’s soccer team. Last season, Noble turned around a program that experienced six straight losing seasons, leading the Big Blue to a 10-8-2 record. In his two years, Noble amassed a 15-20-3 record at the Division III institution.

Prior to Millikin, Noble coached for ten years at the collegiate, high school and club levels. While earning his master’s degree at the University of Redlands, Noble served as the assistant men’s soccer coach from 2004-06. During his two years at Redlands, the teams went 32-6-5 with two SCIAC Championships and two NCAA Division III playoff appearances.

"I am excited to have been appointed to the Director of Soccer position. I would like to thank the university and Josh Doody for this great opportunity." Noble said. "I look forward to building relationships and educating the young men and women in the Notre Dame de Namur soccer program."

Noble replaces former Director of Soccer Lance Thompson who took the head coaching position at Cal Poly Pomona in February. Under Thompson last season, the Argonaut men went 14-4-3, won the Pacific West Conference Championship and made the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The women finished fourth in the PacWest with a 7-5 conference record while compiling a 10-10 overall record.

“We are very excited to have BJ emerge from a very qualified and talented pool of applicants.” Athletic Director Josh Doody said. “We feel that BJ is a great fit and look forward to see where he can take both programs in the future.”

Noble becomes only the fifth men’s head coach in the 21 year history of the program and the fourth women’s coach since the program started in 2000.

Lance Thompson Takes Position at Cal Poly Pomona

February 5 – After two years at the helm of the Notre Dame de Namur soccer program, Lance Thompson has accepted the men’s head coaching position at Cal Poly Pomona.

Thompson, who led both the men’s and women’s programs at NDNU guided the men to a Pacific West Championship and the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth last season. The Argos went 14-4-3 and finished as one of the top defensive teams in the nation with 12 shutouts and a 0.72 goals against average. At the NCAA Tournament, NDNU fell to eventual National Champions CSU Dominguez Hills 3-0.

In his two seasons the men’s team went a combined 24-13-4 while the women compiled a 17-22-1 record. Thompson also coached the school’s first NCAA All-Region performers in Cristobal Montes, Oswaldo Hernandez and Traci Cicerchi.

Thompson takes over a Call Poly Pomona squad that went 4-11-3 last season in the CCAA.

NDNU will begin their search for a new Director of Soccer in the coming days.

Montes and Hernandez Honored Again

December 12 – The honors kept rolling in for two Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer players. Freshman forward Cristobal Montes and junior sweeper Oswaldo Hernandez were named to the NSCAA/adidas Men's Division II All-West Regional Second Team.

Montes adds this selection to his PacWest Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards as well as Daktronics First Team All-West Region and First Team All-Conference accolades.

Hernandez was named Daktronics Second Team All-West Region and First Team All-PacWest earlier this month.

Montes Captures Top Two Conference Awards
Eight Other Argos Earn All-PacWest Honors

December 1 – Freshman Forward Cristobal Montes added to his fantastic debut season with a pair of PacWest awards and a First Team All-Conference selection. Montes was named the 2008 PacWest Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after leading the Argonauts to a conference title and a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

In addition to Montes, seven other Argonauts garnered All-Conference accolades while head coach Lance Thompson was named PacWest Coach of the Year.

Montes (Fremont, CA/John F. Kennedy HS) led the Pacific West Conference in nearly every offensive category including goals (14), points (33) and game-winning goals (7). He earned First Team All-West Region honors after his game-winning goal total ranked first in the region and his points and goal totals rank fourth.

Montes recorded at least one point in 16 of 21 games this season, including a six game streak to close out the regular season. He also ranked in the top-50 in the nation in goals per game and points per game. Montes was named PacWest Player of the Week on October 27th and on November 11th and made the Weekly Honor Roll five other times.

In his second year as head coach at NDNU, Thompson guided the Argonauts to a 14-4-3 record and the school’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Argos finished the PacWest with a 9-1-2 record and went 5-1-1 against the CCAA in the regular season, including a 2-1 victory over #2 Sonoma State in September.

Joining Montes on the First Team were junior defender Oswaldo Hernandez (Shafter, CA/Liberty HS) and senior defender Joe Simonton (Mesa, AZ/Mesa HS) who helped the Argos record 12 shutouts and a 0.72 goals against average. Hernandez was named Second Team All-West Region after anchoring the stout Argonaut defense. On the season, NDNU allowed just eleven goals with Hernandez on the field. Simonton started the final 18 games of the season as a sweeper and was a critical part to the NDNU defense that ranked ninth in the country in goals against average (0.72) and sixth in shutout percentage (0.57)

Senior midfielders Carlos Lopez (Santa Monica, CA/Santa Monica HS) and Dorian Virrueta (Fremont, CA/American HS) both earned All-PacWest honors for the second straight season. Lopez climbed up to the Second Team from Honorable Mention status last year while Virrueta landed on the Second Team for the second straight year. Lopez ended his season tied for 10th in the conference in points after totaling 11 on three goals and five assists. Virrueta shared the league lead in assists with six and ranked second in assists per game with a mark of 0.29.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sheldon Steenhuis (Morgan Hill, CA/Live Oak), the 2007 Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team selection a year ago, earned another honor this year by taking Second Team accolades. Steenhuis produced a 0.77 goals against average to rank second in the conference and 14th in the nation, while his .780 save percentage stands third. He compiled a 10-3-1 record and had a streak of 449 minutes without allowing a goal earlier in the year.

Freshman midfielder Christian Rosales (Redwood City, CA/St. Francis HS) and junior forward Jacob Zavala (Las Vegas, NV/Desert Pines) also earned All-Conference recognition as each was named a Honorable Mention performer. Zavala finished the year tied for 10th in the conference in points with 11 on four goals and three assists. His 0.58 points per game average ranked him 10th, while his 0.21 goals per game tied for 10th. Rosales tied for ninth in the league in assists with three and also added three goals.

Argos Historical Season Ends in NCAA Tournament

November 14 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team saw their historic 2008 season come to an end as #9 CSU Dominguez Hills won the NCAA Division II Far West Region opener 3-0. Senior forward Kyle Holland netted a hat trick for the Toros to account for all the games scoring.

The Argos battled hard for the opening 20 minutes, using solid defense to keep the No. 1 seeded Toros from scoring. However, after junior sweeper Oswaldo Hernandez left the game, CSUDH capitalized. In the 23rd minute, Brian Alvarez played a ball into the box that was nicked by Holland and managed to find its way past goalie Sheldon Steenhuis.

NDNU nearly answered two minutes later when Sean Vogt’s header was stopped on a diving save by goalie Miguel Benitez. The Toros continued to control the rest of the first as they outshot the Argos 10-2 in the period.

The second half started out the same way for NDNU as CSU Dominguez Hills continued to press offensively. Goalkeeper David Meherg made a few diving saves for the Argos early in the half to keep the game within one. However, in the 63rd minute after a failed clear, Holland struck again.

Holland fielded the ball at the top of the box with a wide lane to shoot and place into the lower right hand side of the net. In the 72nd minute, Holland finished off his hat trick when he bent a free kick from 20 yards over the wall and into the upper right hand corner.

For the game, the Argos were outshot 22-6 including 9-2 disadvantage in shots. Steenhuis and Meherg combined to make five saves for NDNU while Benitez recorded the shutout with a pair of stops.

The Argos finish off the year with a 14-4-3 record and currently rank #25 in the national poll. BOX SCORE

Two Argonauts Earn All-Region Honors

November 11 – The 2008 Daktronics Division II Men's Soccer All-West Region team was announced on Tuesday with two Argonauts receiving recognition for their excellent seasons. Freshman forward Cristobal Montes was chosen to the First Team while junior sweeper Oswaldo Hernandez earned Second Team honors.

Montes (Fremont, CA) leads the Pacific West Conference in goals with 14 and points with 33 while also ranking second in assists with five. He ranks first in the West Region in game-winning goals with seven and his points and goal totals rank fourth.

Montes has turned it on as of late, scoring seven goals over the team’s final six games. He is also riding a six game point streak and has recorded at least one point in 16 of 20 games this season. Montes was named PacWest Player of the Week on October 27th and on November 11th and made the Weekly Honor Roll five other times. He was the only freshman selected to either All-West Region Team.

Hernandez (Shafter, CA) has been the anchor on defense for the Argonauts this season. He has started 17 games as a sweeper and is one of the key components for a NDNU defense that ranks sixth nationally in goals against average (0.62) and third in shutouts with 12.

With Hernandez on the field, the Argos have only allowed eleven goals this season. He scored two goals on the year and was named to the PacWest Weekly Honor on November 11th.

Montes and Hernandez become the first two men’s soccer players in school history to earn Division II All-Region honors.

The Argos also moved up to #25 in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings this week. This marks the first time in the program’s history that NDNU cracked the Top-25 poll.

NDNU will face #9 CSU Dominguez Hills on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Argos Move into National Rankings

November 11 – For the first time in school history, the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team moved into the NSCAA/adidas Top-25 National Rankings. The Argos capped off their regular season with a 14-3-3 overall record and will travel to Carson to play in the West Region Tournament.

NDNU has been receiving votes in the poll for the past several weeks, but finally moved into the #25 spot after clinching Pacific West Conference crown last week. The Argos went 9-1-2 in league play and are 13-1-2 overall in their past 16 games.

The Argonauts will face #9 CSU Dominguez Hills on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. COMPLETE NATIONAL RANKINGS

Argos Earn NCAA Tournament Berth

November 10 – The Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team set school history by making it to the NCAA Tournament in their first year of eligibility in their transition back to the Division II level. The Argos finished the year with a 14-3-3 record and won the Pacific West Conference crown with a 9-1-2 record in league play.

NDNU earned the No. 4 seed in the West Region and will head down to Southern California to take on No. 1 seed Dominguez Hills on Thursday night at 7:00 pm. This will be the first meeting between the two schools in the history of the soccer program.

The Argos head the Regional with a 13-1-2 record in their final 16 games while the Toros currently rank fourth in the nation with a 16-2-4 record. The Toros have been to four straight NCAA Tournaments with their best finish coming in 2005 when they reached the quarterfinals.

“We are extremely excited about participating in the NCAA Tournament. The fact that it is our first year being eligible makes it a great accomplishment.” Coach Lance Thompson said. “We know that we have a tough matchup ahead with CSU Dominguez Hills. They have a great history and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Sonoma State (No. 2 seed) and Cal State L.A (No. 3 seed) will square off in the first game on Thursday at 4:00 pm with the winners of the two games playing for the Regional Championship on Saturday at 1:00 pm. All the games will be played at Toro Stadium, on the Track and Field Facility at the Home Depot Center. FULL BRACKET