Photo by: Dwain Linden
Men's Soccer Looking for Success by Staying True to Itself
8/28/2019 2:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif.— The 2019 season is just one day away for the reigning Big West Tournament Champion UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team, but if you asked the Highlanders and Head Coach Tim Cupello, this newly acquired title is not one that the team is interested acknowledging moving forward.
"Look, last season was great and I will always be proud of the way that team fought and the result that came from it, but there is nothing that anyone can do this year that can change last season, and there is nothing that last season's success can do to help this season," Cupello said. "We will always be the 2018 champions, but this year we have a new team and a brand new season."
Riding last season's success is not an option that Cupello is willing to offer to the 2019 roster, but that doesn't mean that the Highlanders wont be utilizing the same tactics that helped them last year. This season, the team looks for success in staying true to itself once again.
"Our goal now is to continue building our culture every single day both on and off the field and staying true to ourselves like we always have," Cupello said. "Going about our business the right way every day, eating and sleeping well, so that all of those things will lead to a positive result on the field."
After saying farewell to seven seniors last year, the team has welcomed 10 new faces to the team: five freshman and five transfers. They will join a deep team of savvy returners, many of whom earned starting roles last season, and others who have been eagerly awaiting their opportunity to represent UCR on the field. Together, Coach Cupello sees one great group of Highlanders.
"We have a good core of guys returning this year and I think we have added some other good pieces to really help them out this year," Cupello said. "Now it comes down to blending the two together which will be very important, and our first test will be this opening weekend."
Among the returners is last year's Big West Tournament MVP, junior Daniel Aguirre, who led the team last year with six goals and 14 points. Last week Aguirre was named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team.
"Daniel is a great player so I think he is deserving of the preseason recognition and it's exciting, but this is also a testament to the success that we can have since this is a team sport," Cupello said. "If he can continue to have the impact he has had on the individual side, he will again be an important player on this team."
The 2019 season begins tomorrow for UCR as the team hosts Bryant before welcoming Hartford on Sunday.
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"Look, last season was great and I will always be proud of the way that team fought and the result that came from it, but there is nothing that anyone can do this year that can change last season, and there is nothing that last season's success can do to help this season," Cupello said. "We will always be the 2018 champions, but this year we have a new team and a brand new season."
Riding last season's success is not an option that Cupello is willing to offer to the 2019 roster, but that doesn't mean that the Highlanders wont be utilizing the same tactics that helped them last year. This season, the team looks for success in staying true to itself once again.
"Our goal now is to continue building our culture every single day both on and off the field and staying true to ourselves like we always have," Cupello said. "Going about our business the right way every day, eating and sleeping well, so that all of those things will lead to a positive result on the field."
After saying farewell to seven seniors last year, the team has welcomed 10 new faces to the team: five freshman and five transfers. They will join a deep team of savvy returners, many of whom earned starting roles last season, and others who have been eagerly awaiting their opportunity to represent UCR on the field. Together, Coach Cupello sees one great group of Highlanders.
"We have a good core of guys returning this year and I think we have added some other good pieces to really help them out this year," Cupello said. "Now it comes down to blending the two together which will be very important, and our first test will be this opening weekend."
Among the returners is last year's Big West Tournament MVP, junior Daniel Aguirre, who led the team last year with six goals and 14 points. Last week Aguirre was named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team.
"Daniel is a great player so I think he is deserving of the preseason recognition and it's exciting, but this is also a testament to the success that we can have since this is a team sport," Cupello said. "If he can continue to have the impact he has had on the individual side, he will again be an important player on this team."
The 2019 season begins tomorrow for UCR as the team hosts Bryant before welcoming Hartford on Sunday.
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Players Mentioned
MF
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