(Walnut, CA) The 2018 season begins today, as the Mt. SAC Men's Soccer Team takes to the road to face Mira Costa College.

"We are excited for the 2018 season," Mt. SAC Men's Soccer Coach Juan Sanchez said. "We have 14 returners and have a very hard working freshmen class."

One of the newcomers to the team is sophomore transfer Gustavo Lopez from Richland College in Dallas, Texas. Mt. SAC will host Richland, the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association National Champions, this Friday in the Mt. SAC Azteca/Adidas Tournament.

Lopez, who played in 17 games for Richland (14-3-1) last season, is a goal scoring forward that will provide additional offensive fire power for the Mounties.

The biggest void the Mounties need to fill is the one left by superstar goalkeeper, Edwyn Gutierrez.  Gutierrez led the Mounties to their fifth CCCAA state championship in 2016 and captured nearly every honor during his two seasons under Sanchez.  Two local keepers, Alain Hernandez and John Samano will look to fill that void in the goal.

The annual Mt. SAC Azteca/Adidas Tournament starts this week (August 31 and September 2) and will feature Mt. SAC, Richland, West Valley and Lake Tahoe.

In early September, the Mounties will travel east to compete in the Azteca Tournament in Washington, DC, where they will take on Genesseem Community College (NY) and Montgomery County Community College (PA).

The Mounties will begin South Coast Conference play in late September.

"This years' team is a very hard working and coachable group," replies Sanchez. "We are looking to continue to be a possession, attack-minded team with the mindset of the quick recovery of the ball on defense." 

Follow Mt. SAC Men's Soccer on twitter @MtSAC_MSoccer

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.