By Paula Peterson
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) men’s and women’s soccer teams both start the new season on Friday, each hosting Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) of Reno.
They have enjoyed a “normal” practice season – no smoke, no bad air days, no evacuation, and no mandated vaccine policies.
Coach Jeremy Evans begins his eighth season as head coach at LTCC. His men’s team has 9 returning players, and 20 newcomers with 11 of them being international players. Seven of those players are from England and playing “football” in the U.S. for the first time. One is from Dubai, two from Wales, and one from Italy. Three from Nigeria and one from South Africa were scheduled to come play at LTCC, but they are not in South Lake Tahoe at this time.
In 2021, despite the fire and smoke issues, the men’s team made the playoffs in their first year of eligibility after a two-year postseason ban stemming from a former coach found to be helping students find housing – not allowed by the California Community College Athletic Association. The 2021 team entered the playoffs as the 13th seed, losing to DeAnza College.
This year Evans thinks the team can go further.
“He is a great coach and makes you into a great player,” said Diego Carrasco of Evans, a sophomore who was born in Chile and graduated high school in Tucson Arizona. “We have a good soccer team.”
Diego hopes to see the team have a great season topped by winning the conference.
One of the British students is Hayden Murray, a freshman from Portsmouth, England. This is his first time in the U.S. and has settled in during his first four weeks in the country.
“I’m looking forward to being in California,” said Hayden. He said he’s been surprised at how friendly everyone has been in South Lake Tahoe.
Hayden has played “football” since he was five years old and will be playing left back for the Coyotes. For a touch of home, his housemates are three of the other players from England. His parents will be visiting in October and catching some matches.
Evans has Nick Sanchez, Miguel Galicia, and Julian Morales from South Tahoe High School.
On the women’s side, the team will have 12 of the 21 players returning, giving them a strong lineup. Last year the Coyotes had a very challenging season as well with the Caldor Fire, and smoke from other fires interrupting their season. They started the 2021 season nationally ranked and look once again to get back on top.
Their season starts against six nationally ranked opponents in the first few weeks.
“This is a talented team,” said Evans of the women. He compares them to his 2017-19 teams. He said the team is very optimistic and play very well together – like one big family.
“I’m so excited,” said Olivia Bozzo of her second season at Lake Tahoe. “It’s cool we have a lot of returners, there is good chemistry.”
The Gilroy High School graduate would like to play at the next level after graduation from LTCC and is pursuing nursing.
Teammate Alyssa Grundy is also looking at a nursing career and is aiming for a Division 1 school after LTCC. But first, there is the 2022 season. Alyssa set an LTCC season record for goals with 33 last year.
“I’m looking forward to this season,” said Alyssa. “There has been a bonding of the team and I love the family aspect.”
From Spanish Springs High School, Alyssa has high goals for the year – a conference title and a state title.
South Tahoe High graduates Jenna Pevenage and Kelsey Hogan will be playing for LTCC this year, as will Incline High’s Rosemary Heffern. The women’s team has one international player, Lauren Niblett of England who played for the Coyotes last season.
On Friday, August 26, the LTCC Coyotes are hosting TMCC. The women take the field at 4 p.m., the men follow at 6:30 p.m.