Men’s Soccer Ranked First In the Nation
UNITED SOCCER COACHES POLL - WEEK 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- The El Camino College men's soccer team was ranked No. 1 in the nation according to the United Soccer Coaches Junior College DIII Rankings, it was announced Tuesday.
The Warriors take over the top spot in the week five poll for the first time in the history of the USC National Poll. The Warriors have been ranked No. 2 in the nation for the previous two weeks before earning the No. 1 ranking on Tuesday.
With South Coast Conference play slated to begin on Tuesday, the Warriors wrapped up non-conference action on Sept. 26 with a 4-0 shutout over Bakersfield. The team finished non-conference action with a 8-1-0 overall record.
Furthermore, the Warriors are currently first in the state in a number of offensive categories. Their 46 total goals are 11 better than second-place Fresno, Gavilan and Norco. The Warriors average 5.11 goals per game, which leads by more than a goal per game over Fresno in second place (3.89).
The team is also getting things done on the defensive end as they are tied for first in the state in shutouts with six. Goalkeeper Donovan Palomares is the reigning USC National Junior College Player of the Week. On the season, Palomares has started every match for ECC and posted a 8-1-0 record, playing 801:04 of a possible 810 minutes. He's recorded four straight shutouts with 15 saves during that streak. He also has not allowed a goal himself since Sept. 8 in a 9-1 win over Moorpark. He has personally gone 480:13 since giving up that goal. Palomares currently boasts a 0.45 Goals Against Average and has made 31 saves on the season.
Prior to Palomares, Marvin Gamez earned the USC National Player of the Week nod after he achieved his first career hat trick during the opening half of ECC's 11-1 victory against Cypress. In that same first half, he contributed two assists. Additionally, Gamez scored the first goal in ECC's 5-0 away victory against Palomar on Friday. It was his third game-winning goal at the time.
On the season, Gamez is tied for the state lead in goals with 12 and points with 28 total. He's tied for fifth in the state with three game-winning goals.
The Warriors open conference play today on the road against Mount San Antonio at 4:30 p.m.