Vasquez Makes Rousing First Impression

Until David Vasquez entered Myron Tarkanian’s office this fall, the Pasadena men’s soccer coach had never met the young man from Insurgentes, Mexico.

“He just walked into the office and said he wanted to play,” Tarkanian said. “He’s turned out to be a lot better than anyone [could have] imagined.”

Vasquez, a freshman forward-midfielder, has scored in each of the Lancers’ five matches, including three goals in a 5-2 victory over Cypress, and leads the state with nine goals.

Pasadena, the defending South Coast Conference East Division champion, is 4-0-1.

Vasquez was originally headed to Cal State Los Angeles but he did not have enough credits from his secondary school in Mexico to satisfy NCAA regulations. Cal State L.A. Coach Santo Rivas helped steer him to Pasadena.

Now, Vasquez is in position to challenge the school record of 17 goals in a season.

‘David has been a real surprise,’ Tarkanian said.

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Turnaround time: Victor Valley’s football program is often lost in the shadow of more successful programs in the high desert and inland areas, such as Chaffey’s and San Bernardino Valley’s. In fact, the Rams are known for losing, big and often. But that may be changing.

A 27-game losing streak ended Sept. 8, when Victor Valley routed Pierce, 45-0. Never mind that Pierce is among the weaker programs in the state. A victory is still a victory, especially when the last one dates to 1998.

“Obviously it’s a nice situation,” Victor Valley Coach David Hoover said. “We feel we’re getting the program turned around here.

“We were at a point last year where we lost in overtime or lost games in the last minute. If you were to give me one play in the fourth quarter of those games, we’d have been 5-5.”

Victor Valley has the potential to win a few more with all-state running back Kenneth Thomas carrying the ball. Thomas, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns against Pierce.

Another running back, Zeke Buckhalter, rushed 22 times for 105 yards and a score. Winning can only help what Hoover has tried to accomplish since becoming coach last season. Players from the area avoided the school because of its woeful program.

“Previously we weren’t the answer for almost any high desert kid,” Hoover said. “I had to do a good job of being a salesman. There’s some very fine football out here. Barstow and Sultana have great programs. Those kids just never stayed before.”

Hoover, 45, came aboard last year after serving as offensive line coach at Massachusetts. His roots are in Southern California and he wanted the opportunity to run his own program.

Now he has grand visions for Victor Valley.

“We don’t have the depth that other colleges do, but I’ll take my 11 against anyone else’s 11,” Hoover said. “This place can be a diamond in the rough.”

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Wild one: In Chaffey College’s 52-48 season-opening victory over Mt. San Antonio, the teams combined for 1,074 yards of offense. Mt. SAC quarterback Greg Valenzuela threw for 472 yards and six touchdowns; Chaffey’s Jeff Disney threw for 379 and six scores.

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OCC women prevail: The Orange Coast women’s cross-country team recently won the Southern California Championships preview meet at Lancaster Soccer Complex, in Lancaster, edging Mt. San Antonio, 32-43. El Camino was fourth, Fullerton fifth.

San Diego Mesa outscored Mt. San Antonio, 46-89, to win the men’s team race.