Cal Poly -  Four Star Class Ranking -  If you are looking for a program with momentum, you need look no further than Cal Poly out of the Big West Conference.   Paul Holocher has added a very athletic and soccer savvy twelve member 2009 recruiting class with a solid history of competitive club and ODP play.  The class contains several players with the experience and physicality to contribute immediately including midfielder Paul Islas from Fresno, California who was a member of the Cal North and Region IV ODP teams.   Last year the Mustangs were 11-6-6 overall, earned a berth in the NCAA Tourney for the first time since 1995, and secured the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win with a 1-0 victory over perennial west coast powerhouse UCLA.  Add to that the fact that Cal Poly was third in the nation in fan support with an average draw of almost 3,000 per contest and you have a program that is clearly on the rise.  Eight starters return from the 2008 team to provide a solid foundation upon which to build heading into the 2009 campaign.  However, Holocher does have several pretty big gaps to address due to the graduation of goalkeeper Eric Branagan-Franco who was the Co-Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, attacking midfielder Julian Alvarez (6g, 5a) who was a Second-Team All Big West Conference selection, and defensive midfielder Anton Peterlin (0g,2a) who was named a First-Team All-Big West selection.   Junior David Zamora (8g, 0a) who was a 2008 All-Big West Second Team selection will return up-top to lead the Cal Poly attack in 2009.  He will be joined by sophomore forward Wes Feighner (4g, 1a) among others.  Kyle Montgomery (1g, 10a) who was a 2008 Second Team All-Big West selection returns to add punch to the Mustang attack either up-top or in the midfield.  Junior Ryan Anderson (2g, 0a), sophomore Jacob Hustedt (2g, 3a), sophomore Cameron Walters (0g, 3a), senior Daniel Cummings (3g, 1a), senior Jose Garcia (1g, 4a), junior Daniel Gray, and sophomore Evan Richter (0g, 2a) return to give Cal Poly a talented and deep group of midfielders.  Center back Paul Sigler who was the 2008 Co-Big West Freshman of the Year returns to anchor the Mustang backline along with senior Josh Didion and junior Derek Brown.  The biggest unanswered question surrounding Cal Poly heading into the 2009 season will the play between the pipes.  Branagan-Franco, who was a three-year starter and arguably the best keeper to ever attend Cal Poly, is not the type of player easily replaced.  However, all things considered, the Mustangs are well positioned to build on the success of the 2008 campaign and should again be a factor in what looks to be another very productive and competitive season for the Big West Conference.

 

Kevin Atkins - San Jose, California - Midfielder - Archbishop Mitty High School - Played club with DeAnza Force - All-West Coast Catholic Athletic League selection.

 

Connor Burke - Westlake Village, California - Defender - Westlake Village High School - Played club with Real So Cal - All-CIF Second Team selection as a junior. 

 

Ian Clark - Vancouver, B.C. - Midfielder - Played club for Vancover Whitecaps FC - Athletic and quick player - Solid work ethic with good speed and athleticism. 

 

Brett Finkelstein - Marin, California - Goalkeeper - Marin Academy - Member Cal North and Region IV ODP team - Played club with Marin Academy - Good size and technique.  Great potential. 

 

Ben Fisk - Seattle, Washington - Midfielder - Bellarmine Prep - All-Narrows League First Team selection - Played for Crossfire Premier U.S. Soccer League Development Academy - Solid defender.

 

Chris Gaschen - Granite Bay, California - Midfielder - Granite Bay High School - Two-time NCAA All-West Region selection - Netted 96 career goals and 51 career assists - Region IV ODP team member.

 

Michael Hocker - Olney, Maryland - Midfielder - Georgetown Prep - Named to DC Dream Team in 2008 - All-Montgomery County First Team selection - Region 1 ODP team member.  Great touch on the ball.

 

Paul Islas - Fresno, California - Midfielder - Bullard High School - Member of Cal North and Region IV ODP teams - Member of USL Fresno Fuego - Solid player on both sides of the ball. 

 

Mac Pridham - Saratoga, California - Forward - Bellarmine College Prep - Played for the Canadian National U-17 team - Played club for De Anza Force Academy - Super Y League ODP National Team .

 

Sam Myerson - Agoura Hills, California - Forward - Agoura Hills High School - Played club for Real So Cal - All-Marmonte League First Team selection in 2008 - Four year starter for Agoura Hills High.

 

Jackson Ray - Lake Oswego, Oregon - Midfielder - Lake Oswego High School - Second-Team All-State selection - All-Three Rives League First Team selection - Played club for Westside Metros.

 

Jeff Strickland - Davis, California - Defender - Davis High School - Three year member of Region IV ODP team - National pool member in 2006 - Played club for San Juan Lightning.  All-League selection.