Tigers take the field for 2009 men’s soccer season

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2009) – The Occidental College men’s soccer team looks to improve on a disappointing season in 2008 with the addition of 10 new Tigers who join the 12 returning players.

Midfielder Gil Ortega, the lone senior, and junior defender CJ Grigoriadis have taken on a leadership role this off season as captains. Also leading by example on the field this fall will be the junior defensive duo of Rob Riccardi and Kosa Gaucher-Lambert.

Joining the squad for the 2009 campaign are a class of eight true freshmen and a pair of sophomores in Will Moseley, a standout cross country and track & field athlete at Occidental, and Nolan Borgman. Another dual-sport athlete returning to the field this fall is junior defender Kris Suzuki, a southpaw who has pitched in relief for the Tigers’ baseball team for two seasons.

There will likely be a battle for playing time in front of the goal as junior Ian Powell, who was sidelined last season with an injury, and sophomore Andrew Larkin compete for the starting role.

With another year of collegiate experience under the belt of the dozen returning athletes, the men’s soccer program looks to put a 6-9-2 record from 2008 behind them, looking forward.

“We have a chance to be competitive in the conference this season if our guys work together,” said head coach DJ Waddington. “If we play to our potential we will have a shot at making it into the SCIAC Tournament at the beginning of November.”

The Tigers kick off the 2009 season on Saturday morning when they host the Cobbers from Concordia College – Moorehead on the Lower Soccer Field. Occidental plays eight of its 17 games at home this fall.