For Justin Johnson, success starts with a look and the idea that
looking good translates into playing well.
For Justin Johnson, success starts with a look and the idea that looking good translates into playing well.
To push that idea, the first-year Gavilan soccer coach has made sure everything about Gavilan soccer has been upgraded – from team-colored backpacks and practice jerseys to new goals.
“I want the guys to look the same, so I got practice uniforms and got rid of those rinkadink nets,” Johnson said. “If we feel good, we look good and we’ll play good because we have some exciting players here.”
The new-look Rams have done well so far incorporating Johnson’s philosophies on the pitch, and an all-freshmen team of 20 players has posted a 3-1 record in the early portion of the season. The Rams most recently defeated Mission College 2-0 on Tuesday. Gavilan also has victories over Shasta and Delta colleges. Adding to the intrigue of the 2011 Rams – every one of the players on the roster were not members of last year’s squad.
“Everyone here I recruited to be here,” Johnson said. “If we are getting better one day at a time – that’s all we are looking for.”
This season, the team will rely on a high-paced offense that utilizes quick touch passing and the team’s youthful speed.
“He wants us … he puts into our mentality that he wants us to play fast,” freshmen midfielder Omar Damian-Vazquez said. “That’s really good – that’s how teams are winning right now.”
The offense has been led by Anthony Velazquez, who has scored four goals in the team’s first four games. Early success has also been found in the midfield.
“We are playing some of the best soccer in the middle that you’ll find,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a delight when they get their experience.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the team has played strong in front of San Jose State recruit and goalie Eric Saavedra.
“They are very good,” Saavedra said. “We are just freshman but we talk with each other and communicate.”
And because of the team’s youth – it’s only going to get better. This is our first year together. We are still getting used to playing with each other but I think we can do some good things. I think we can make it.”
Despite its youth and lack of sophomores, the team expects to win.
“We are pretty young and we are just trying to get our team chemistry together so we can do well against all of the teams around here,” Damian-Vazquez said.
Saavedra added that he expects the team to compete for a Coast Conference title in its first year under Johnson.
“We are very fast on the ball, I think its very tough to keep up with us,” Saavedra said. “We play as a team and not as individuals. We are strong on the back and on offense we are going to score a lot of goals. We are all fresh out of high school so we are very fit and conditioned. I think this team can really do it.”
The Rams have four consecutive road games beginning today at Monterey Peninsula College. An away date Sept. 20 at West Hills concludes the non-conferance portion of the schedule. Following tilts against City College of San Francisco and Mission College, Gavilan returns home Sept. 30 against MPC at 3 p.m.
