Everett, WA - The men's soccer team is coming off of much momentum built from the 2022 squad that saw a record setting number of goals scored (67) and tying the most wins in a single season (13). The team also advanced to the NWAC final four, the highest program finish since 1989. A pre-season ranking showed the 2023 Trojans ranked 6th in the NWAC heading into the season which has 3rd year head coach Kieren Raney preparing his team to proove once again that EvCC is a force to reckon with. Although EvCC graduated all time leading goal scorer and NWAC player of the year River Stewart, Everett still returns 10 sophomores from last year's team and reloaded with plenty of talent to make another run at a title.
Everett started the 2023 campaign with a pair of home scrimmages, first with a decisive 6-2 win over Pacific Northwest Christian College, an upstart two-year college out of the Tri-Cities who will be competing in the NJCAA as a new Region 18 member of Division I (full scholarship) this 2023 season. Sophomore Luis Carillo scored, along with a pair of goals from fellow sophomore Mohammed Darboe. Local freshmen Giovanni Castillo (Arlington) scored as did Reid Schaffer (Monroe) who also assisted Mohammed's first goal. Two other sophomores got in on the action, Emmanuel Chavez scored, and Emmanuel Nyaga recorded three assists.
Two days later the Trojans hosted the University of Fraser Valley, a Canadian school that competes in the country's highest level of collegiate sports and finished the 2022 season with a 7-7-2 record and advancing to the national playoffs. The Trojan offense continued to display an organized attack and put up 3 goals to UFV's 1. Darboe was back in full form, with two more goals and newcomer Cristiano Whitaker scored, getting the assist from Nyaga.
The final scrimmage was set up on the road at Clark College in Vancouver, WA on August 16th. Due to the high temperature expected to reach triple digits, the match time was moved up two hours, which meant an early morning departure for coach Kieren Raney and crew. Darboe was able to get EvCC on the board first and then later took advantage of an own goal to lead 2-0 at halftime. Clark, however found the net twice in the second half forcing the draw.
Coach Raney felt confident in how the squad performed over the three match set, especially the reserve players who saw a lot of time, but acknowledged that there was still much work to be done if this year's team was going to repeat success. Everett will open up the 2023 season on the road at Centralia on Friday, August 18th. Match time is set for 10am against the program in its innaugural season. The first home game will not be until August 31st when Everett will host South Puget Sound at Memorial Stadium.