For Justin Johnson, success starts all with the look, and the
idea that looking good translates to playing well. To push that
idea, the first-year Gavilan soccer coach has made sure everything
about Gavilan soccer has been upgraded — from team-colored
backpacks and practice jerseys to new goals.
”
I want the guys to look the same, so I got practice uniforms and
got rid of those rinky-dink nets,
”
Johnson said.
”
If we feel good
– we look good and we’ll play good because we have some exciting
players here.
”
GILROY
For Justin Johnson, success starts all with the look, and the idea that looking good translates to playing well.
To push that idea, the first-year Gavilan soccer coach has made sure everything about Gavilan soccer has been upgraded — from team-colored backpacks and practice jerseys to new goals.
“I want the guys to look the same, so I got practice uniforms and got rid of those rinky-dink nets,” Johnson said. “If we feel good – we look good and we’ll play good because we have some exciting players here.”
The new-look Rams have translated that appearance to the field and an all-freshmen team of 20 players. Everyone of the players on the roster were not members of last year’s squad.
“Everyone here I recruited to be here,” Johnson said.
Because of the young squad, the team will only get better and could bring back all of its starters next year.
This season, the team will rely on a high-paced offense that utilizes quick touch passing and the team’s youthful speed.
“He wants us … he puts into our mentality that he wants us to play fast,” freshmen midfielder Omar Damian-Vazquez said. “That’s really good — that’s how teams are winning right now.”
The quick-touch and fast offense has allowed the Rams to get off to a quick 2-1 start with a victories over Shasta and Delta colleges.
The offense has been led by Anthony Velazquez, who has scored four goals in the team’s first three games. And through the first couple of weeks, the team has played well in the middle of the field.
“We are playing some of the best soccer in the middle that you’ll find,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a delight when they get their experience.”
And on the defensive side of the ball, the team has played strong in front of goalkeeper Eric Saavedra, a San Jose State recruit who was part of Live Oak’s run to the Central Coast Section Division III boys soccer final last winter.
“They are very good,” the goalie said. “We are just freshman but we talk with each other and communicate.”
And because of the team’s youth — it’s only going to get better.
“If we are getting better one day at a time — that’s all we are looking for,” Johnson said.
The players, though, expect big things from the team despite its youth and lack of sophomores.
“We are pretty young and we are just trying to get our team chemistry together so we can do well against all of the teams around here,” Damian-Vazquez said.
And once the team finally has its chemistry down — the sky is the limit.
“This is our first year together,” Saavedra said. “We are still getting used to playing with each other but I think we can do some good things. I think we can make it.”
By making it, Saavedra expects the team to compete for a conference title in its first year under Johnson.
“We are very fast on the ball — I think its very tough to keep up with us,” Saavedra said. “We play as a team and not as individuals. We are strong on the back and on offense we are going to score a lot of goals. We are all fresh out of high school so we are very fit and conditioned.”
He continued, “I think this team can really do it.”
