OROVILLE, Calif.-- Butte College men's soccer team is now 15-1-1 after a shutout win over Lake Tahoe this past Tuesday.
The Roadrunners sit in first place in the Golden Valley Conference at 6-0-1. A great feat, but they want more this season.
“The anger and the hunger that they have because of how last season ended, losing in the Elite Eight in a Game 1 to nothing against a team that we out shot and out possessed. We gave up a very sloppy goal on our part, that has really motivated this group,” said head coach Ross Sandberg.
Fifteen players returned to the team after last season, including lead scorer Frerderico Ferreria.
“I'm a player that likes to play possession soccer a lot," said Ferreria. "I see my team as the same. We don’t have big players to play long ball, only running. We like to keep the ball and have it work for us, and make the others tired.”
The Roadrunners already scored 50 goals this year. Their defense has only allowed six goals this year, two in the season, and shutout 12 of their opponents.
"It's just everybody coming out each day and working on what coach wants us to and just putting the time and effort in," said Logan Hall. "Then, on the field that just pays off.”
“We’re brothers [on and off] the field like even we hang out together [off] the field and that’s what makes the chemistry and raises the chemistry for us," said Yousef Alenezi.
There are 28 players on the team and 26 are from all over the world. Only two are from Chico.
"For me and most guys on the team, soccer is our world," said Sebastian Karlholm. "All of us have moved from another country to be here and play this game so it means the world to me, all of our success.”
The Roadrunners are set to host Shasta College this Friday at 4 p.m. This game is pending due to power outages.