Enrique Cardenas has assembled a Coachella Valley all-star soccer squad at COD

Andrew L. John
Palm Springs Desert Sun
Enrique Cardenas, left, coaches the College of the Desert soccer players during practice on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in Palm Desert.

When Enrique Cardenas took over the men’s soccer program at College of the Desert last year, one of his early goals was to have a roster made up entirely of players from the Coachella Valley.

He grew up here and believed that the untapped talent in the area could help him build a junior college powerhouse.

Now in his second season at COD, he may be well on his way.

Cardenas, who starred at UC-Irvine and later in the professional ranks, now has a roster that resembles a Coachella Valley all-star team. Every player is local, and the collective group includes a CIF Player of the Year, two former Division I players, seven league players of the year, and 10 CIF championships.

“There’s no attitude, no prima donnas,” Cardenas said. “Everyone has a role, and they learn their role and we play as one unit.”

The Roadrunners began the season with the biggest win in program history, a 2-1 win over Cerritos College, the third-ranked team in the country.

“It feels good to have a team that represents the valley,” said forward Luis Gastelum, a Rancho Mirage grad. “There’s a lot of talent out here that sometimes goes unnoticed.

“They’re starting to notice us now.”

Here’s a rundown of the home-grown roster Cardenas has assembled:

Alex Pimentel, shown here in June, 2018.

Alex Pimentel, freshman forward

A former CIF Player of the Year, Pimentel scored 101 career goals and won a pair of CIF titles at Desert Mirage High School. His teams were 17-3 in the postseason, and his teams won 72 of 83 games over his final three years.

More:Numbers speak loudly: Desert Mirage's Alex Pimentel is our Male Athlete of the Year

More:Former desert soccer star Enrique Cardenas sees a lot of himself in Rams' Alex Pimentel

Pimentel was offered an opportunity to play professionally in Mexico, yet instead decided to play college soccer.

Lucas Rosales, freshman midfielder

Rosales, a former Desert Valley League Player of the Year, won a CIF title at La Quinta High and scored 25 goals and tallied 10 assists as a senior in 2017. He joined the team at Cal State Fullerton before returning to the desert to play for the Roadrunners.

He and Pimentel currently lead the Roadrunners in goals scored this season.

Lucas Rosales, a former Desert Valley League Player of the Year at La Quinta, is now a standout on the College of the Desert men's soccer team.

Armando Rivera, sophomore defender

Rivera, a former De Anza League defensive MVP, was perhaps the most important player on the Desert Mirage team that finished 26-0 in 2016.

Like Rosales, the 6-foot-5 midfielder joined the team at Cal State Fullerton in the hopes of eventually playing his way into a scholarship. When that didn’t happen, he returned to the desert in the hopes of earning a scholarship to a four-year college.

Luis Gastelum, sophomore forward

Gastelum was a two-time All-De Anza League selection who previously played at San Bernardino Valley College. He returned to the Coachella Valley after his freshman season and has become one of the leaders of this year’s COD squad.

Danny Negrete, freshman goalkeeper

Negrete, a four-year starter at Desert Mirage High, earned All-CIF recognition multiple times and was a two-time Goalkeeper of the Year in the De Anza League. He allowed 11 goals in 24 matches during the Rams’ historic 2016 season.

Leonardo Garcia-Guerra, freshman midfielder

Last year's Desert Valley League MVP scored 15 goals for Palm Desert High, using his speed and ball skills to make his way behind opposing defenses. 

Andrassy Teran, sophomore defender

Teran earned All-CIF honors as a forward at La Quinta High in 2017, helping the Blackhawks to a nearly flawless 14-1-4 regular season record. He scored 10 goals and added six assists that season, yet his size (6-foot-1) and high-level athleticism makes him an ideal fit on the defensive side of the ball for the Roadrunners.

Andrassy Teran, left, shown here in 2016.

Nathan Ocampo, sophomore forward

A former All-De Anza League forward, Ocampo scored 41 goals in three seasons for Rancho Mirage High. He started nine games a year ago for the Roadrunners and was tied for second on the team in goals.

College of the Desert soccer players practice on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in Palm Desert.

 

Other Coachella Valley players playing at COD:

Zeus Rico, D, Desert Hot Springs High

Gustavo Covarrubias, M, West Shores High

Alejandro Delgado, D, Coachella Valley High

Dante Delgado, M, Desert Mirage High

Isaac Vargas, M, Shadow Hills High

Christian Herrera, D, La Quinta High

Uriel Lopez, GK, Palm Desert High

Pablo Minero, F, Desert Hot Springs High

Jose Reyes, M, Cathedral City High

Daniel Romero, M, Cathedral City High

Cesar Garcia, M, Coachella Valley High

Jesus Rubio, D, Desert Mirage High

Jesus Gutierrez, M, Desert Mirage High

Jonathan Zambrano, D, Coachella Valley High

Vincenzo Costagliola, D, Palm Springs High

Omar Felix, F, Coachella Valley High

Roly Segura, GK, Desert Hot Springs High

Jason Teran, D, La Quinta High

Giovanni Villalta, D, Desert Mirage High

College of the Desert soccer players practice on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in Palm Desert.