The men’s Mustangs soccer team enters the fall season off of another great season in 2009. We are extremely excited to get back to the pitch and prove once again that we are one of the premier soccer programs in the Rocky Mountain region.
The Mustangs return six players from last year’s squad. Taylor Whetman from Kearns UT will be asked to mind the net again for the Mustangs. Taylor was a 2nd Team All-Region IX selection last season for WWCC. Taylor had 16 starts and 3 shutouts a year ago. Gilbert Gonzalez a local product from Rock Springs WY will return as a forward. Gilbert notched 3 goals and 2 assists his freshman year along with a 2nd Team All-Region IX selection. Logan Bailey a defender who comes to us from Casper WY will be asked to anchor the back line. Logan was also a 2nd Team All-Region IX selection from 2009. Logan started 19 matches and had 1 assist last season. Mika Goodman is another forward returning to the Mustangs. Mika is from Springville UT, he is also a very capable goal keeper. 2009 was a great year for Mika with 5 goals and 1 assist and we look towards more production from Mika. Braxton Hamilton a midfielder who graduated from Riverton WY is another returner for us this season. Braxton had a very good freshman season with 4 goals and 1 assist. WWCC expects some more hustle from Braxton this season. Cody Rall is our last returner; he is from Rock Springs WY. Cody is a defender who was the most improved a season ago. Cody is a big defender that will play a big role on this year’s squad.
Five players on the 2009 squad are currently serving LDS church missions and 4 more done with schooling at Western and looking to move onto 4 year school. With the departure of these players and others we will be welcoming a big group of new students into the Western Wyoming soccer family this fall.
Newcomers to this year’s forwards are: Miguel Angel Maca, Stefan Naylor, Edwin Sanchez and Pat Walker. Miguel played at Natrona County High in Casper, WY. Miguel led the state of WY in scoring his senior year, he helped lead his team to a 2nd place finish in state his junior season. Miguel was a 2 time All-State selection. Stefan Naylor was part of Preston High in Preston, ID, and will bring a lot of speed to our front line. Stefan also played club soccer in Utah and brings experience and savvy. Logan High in Logan, UT, is where Edwin Sanchez played before becoming a Mustang. Edwin has outstanding foot skills and a rocket of a shot. Edwin was a high school starter since his freshman year. He was named on the All- Valley Team all 4 years. Edwin received All- State recognition 2006-2009. Our last forward is Pat Walker from Rock Springs High in Rock Springs WY. Pat is a natural left footed player that had a great career with the RSHS Tigers. Pat was a 2nd Team All-Conference player as a senior. There is a load of talent in these forwards and we are looking from some individual and team records to fall this season.
The midfield has added Jorge Chacon, Mitch Christensen, Charley Lifferth, Angel Muniz, Nathaniel Sellis and Jesus Ramirez for the 2010 campaign. Jorge Chacon is from Spanish Fork, UT, and a graduate of Spanish Fork High. Jorge brings some stability and experience to the Mustangs from the midfield not to mention an offensive punch from the outside. Mitch Christensen comes to the Mustangs from Bountiful High in Bountiful, UT. Mitch has a motor that does not quit and should be able to use his speed to help find his way into the WWCC lineup. Charley Lifferth is from Lehi, UT, and Lehi High. Charley is very skillful and extremely smart on the ball. Charley is expected to have a great career as a Mustang. Angel Muniz was a Logan High graduate from Logan, UT. Angel is a very smart and steady player and could see time in both the midfield and as a forward. He possesses great vision and pinpoint accuracy passing. Nathaniel Sellis, from Taylorsville, UT, and Taylorsville High, is a versatile player who may play in the middle or as a wing. He is a hungry and hard working player we are sure that his abilities will keep him on the field as a Mustang. Jesus Ramirez is a 2010 graduate from Rock Springs High in Rock Springs WY. Jesus played as an outside midfielder and a central midfielder while in high school. He will bring size and speed to the Mustang midfield.
The Mustang’s back line has been bolstered by the additions of Wes Magagna, Spencer Molman, Zach Plitt and Riley Yerkovich. Rock Springs High and the city of Rock Springs WY brings us Wes Magagna who will help out our defense. Wes is a solid defender who was a 2nd Team All-Conference Player his junior year. Spencer Molman is a graduate of Bountiful High and is from Bountiful, UT. Spencer will bring experience in running a defense. Spencer was his high school's 2010 Team Captain and Most Valuable Midfielder. He was a 3 year starter and part of the 2008 Utah State Soccer Champions. Zach Plitt from American Fork, UT, and American Fork High is another defensive recruit. Zach was an integral part of his high school’s successes. He brings a winning attitude and superb physical abilities to an already tough WWCC defense. Riley Yerkovich is another local product from Rock Springs High. Riley is a natural leader whose passion and intelligence will help him becomes a great Mustang. Riley as a senior was named a 2nd Team All-Conference player.
At goalkeeper the Mustangs added one recruit. Todd West is from Taylorsville, UT, and Taylorsville High School. He is very talented with a great high school and club career behind him. He is a very reliable keeper and has the skills to be very successful here as a Mustang.
The 2010 Schedule for WWCC Men's Soccer
Sat August 7 - Practice Begins - Rock Springs WY - 7:00pm
Fri August 20 - Dixie State (Scrimmage) - St. George UT - L (1 - 4)
Sat August 21 - Westminster (Scrimmage) - Salt Lake City UT - W (4 - 2)
Tues August 24 - Treasure Valley (Scrimmage) - Rock Springs WY - L (1 - 2)
Sat August 28 - North Idaho - Couer d’Alene ID - W (1 - 0)* (1 - 0 - 0)
Fri September 3 - Salt Lake CC - Salt Lake City UT - L (1 - 4) (1 - 1 - 0)
Sat September 4 - University of Utah - Salt Lake City UT - L (0 - 5) (1 - 2 - 0)
Tues September 7 - Northwest College - Rock Springs WY - T (2 - 2) (1 - 2 - 1)
Sat September 11 - Idaho State - Pocatello ID - W (1 - 0) (2 - 2 - 1)
Wed September 15 - Laramie County - Cheyenne WY - L (1 - 4) (2 - 3 - 1)
Sat September 18 - Rocky Mountain Rival - Rock Springs WY - W (6 - 3) (3 - 3 - 1)
Wed September 22 - Otero Junior College - La Junta CO - L (1 - 5) (3 - 4 - 1)
Thurs September 23 - Air Force Prep - Colorado Springs CO - L (1 - 3) (3 - 5 - 1)
Fri September 24 - Laramie County - Rock Springs WY - L (2 - 5) (3 - 6 - 1)
Tues September 28 - Northwest College - Powell WY - L (1 - 3) (3 - 7 - 1)
Sat October 2 - Western Nebraska - Scottsbluff NE - L (0 - 3) (3 - 8 - 1)
Tues October 5 - Rocky Mountain Rival - Spanish Fork UT - L (0 - 3) (3 - 9 - 1)
Fri October 8 - Otero Junior College - Rock Springs WY - L (4 - 5) (3 - 10 - 1)
Sat October 9 - University of Utah - Rock Springs WY - W (1 - 0)** (4 - 10 - 1)
Fri October 15 - North Idaho - Rock Springs WY - L (0 - 2) (4 - 11 - 1)
Sat October 16 - Western Nebraska - Rock Springs WY - W (2 - 1) (5 - 11 - 1)
2010 Roster for the Mustangs
NO. | PLAYER | HT | YR | HOMETOWN |
1 | 5'11" | SO | Kearns, UT | |
2 | 6’0” | FR | Bountiful, UT | |
3 | 5'9" | FR | Preston, ID | |
5 | 5'10" | FR | Lehi, UT | |
6 | 5'8" | FR | Rock Springs, WY | |
7 | 5'8" | FR | American Fork, UT | |
8 | 5'7" | FR | Casper, WY | |
9 | 5'6" | SO | Guaymas, Mexico | |
10 | 5'7" | FR | Casper, WY | |
11 | 6'0" | FR | Taylorsville, UT | |
12 | 5'6" | FR | Spanish Fork, UT | |
14 | 6'0" | SO | Springville, UT | |
15 | 5'7" | FR | Logan, UT | |
16 | 6'2" | FR | Rock Springs, WY | |
17 | 6'0" | FR | Taylorsville, UT | |
19 | 5'6" | FR | Bountiful, UT | |
20 | 6'0" | SO | Rock Springs, WY | |
21 | 6'0" | FR | Rock Springs, WY | |
23 | 5'6' | FR | Logan, UT | |
24 | 5'8" | SO | Riverton, WY | |
25 | 5'9" | FR | Rock Springs, WY |
| Head Coach: | Jeff Atkinson | College President: | Dr. Karla Leach | ||
| Assistant Coach: | Sean Grube | Athletic Director: | Dr. Jackie Freeze | ||
| Asst. AD/Trainer: | Lu Sweet | Student Trainer: | Jessica Martinez | ||
