Notre Dame de Namur Looks For Repeat Performance in Men's Soccer

Fresh off its second ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament,  the Notre Dame de Namur men’s soccer team will look to pick up where they left off. 

This year, the Argos will look to make a run at the Pacific West Conference championship and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

NDNU was predicted to finish third in the conference by the coaches this year, garnering one first place vote and coming in behind California Baptist and Fresno Pacific. 

The Argos return eight starters from last year’s 13-5-1 squad, including five All-Conference and three All-Region performers. 

The Argos placed three players on the Preseason All-PacWest team, led by seniors Armando Garcia and Jesus Gonzalez with sophomore Tyler Matas also receiving the honor. 

Garcia, a forward from Redwood City, is no stranger to conference accolades, earning All-PacWest honors in each of the last three seasons. 

He earned First Team honors last year after being named Second Team All-Conference as a freshman and sophomore.

Garcia was also named 2010 PacWest Freshman of the year after an outstanding debut season.  In addition, Garcia is a three-time All-West Region performer, making both the NSCAA and Daktronics teams last season.  In 2012, Garcia led the Argos in total points with 25 and assists with nine.

He also finished second on the team in goals with eight, including four game-winners.

Gonzalez, a midfielder from Santa Barbara, earned Second Team All-Conference honors last season after making the move to the midfield.  He controlled the game for the Argonauts in the middle, finishing second on the team in assists with six and third in goals with five despite missing the least five games with an injury. 

Three of Gonzalez’s five goals went for game-winners, including a 30-yard laser in a victory over No. 8 Grand Canyon. 

Matas, a defender from Honolulu, is coming off an outstanding debut season that earned him Second Team All-PacWest accolades. 

He started all 19 games for the Argonauts at right back and played all but six minutes on the season.  He led the team with 1792 minutes played while adding four assists.