The Moorpark College Raiders opened their season with an almost entirely new roster for their men’s soccer team.

With many of last year’s key sophomore players now gone, the Raiders found themselves in a rebuilding mode. The 2-4-2 Raiders have played six of their eight games on the road, giving the players time to strengthen their chemistry and personal friendships away from home. In a competitive conference where growing together as a team is another challenge in itself, it’s vital they learn to come together as one.

Sean Roche, head coach of the Raiders, finds this important time can prove to be valuable in building a new team’s camaraderie.

“In the reality of the world of soccer, it is the groups that have stayed together the longest that are usually successful,” Roche explained. “We’ve been away every game but one, that isn’t the easiest thing, but it helps for us to bond together. I feel in those short lengths of time it kind of forces you, so it works out for us.”

After the season opener ended in a draw, the Raiders hit the road to play against the Cypress Chargers, the Irvine Valley Lasers, and the Glendale Vaqueros. While these games resulted in a three game losing streak, improvements were made between each match. Sophomore Trent Madison scored the team’s lone goal at around the 50th minute against Irvine Valley, and despite losing 3-1, the Raiders still showed intensity and great team play against the No. 15 team in the country.

“The Irvine Valley game, that was a two-minute, three-minute surge on their part, maybe that coincided with a lapse in focus on our part,” Roche said. “They had those two goals that came in about the 60th and the 63rd minute, so up until that point in time we had shown really well against a pretty good side.”

The Raiders dropped their next game to Glendale, before getting their first win of the season against El Camino-Compton in a commanding fashion. Madison and freshman Ezequiel Quijada each scored a goal in the 13th and 17th minute respectively, getting the team off to a quick start. Madison added another goal at the 37th minute to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead at halftime. The second half provided much of the same, as sophomore Sam Curren scored twice for Moorpark while helping to lead the Raiders to a convincing 5-1 win.

“The Compton game was a different kind of game,” said Roche. They’re a different team, very combative and quite quick. Our goal-keeper did an excellent job, Martin Martines played that game…but the most positive thing is that we were considerably in a much more dangerous and attacking mood- we moved forward, we got shots on goal, and in the end we scored goals which is what we want to do.”

Roche explains that maintaining a healthy team and having a group of guys that have grown together and improved each game, is reason enough to remain optimistic moving forward. Although the team’s record (1-4-1) does not reflect a winning percentage, the team’s growth as a unit reflects a winning team.