Sea Lions ‘control, pass and move,’ bedeviling their soccer foes

There is a number that quickly comes to Phil Wolf’s mind when the coach of Point Loma Nazarene’s nationally-ranked men’s soccer team discusses his club.

It’s not the Sea Lions’ No. 10 ranking among NCAA Division II programs, their 9-3-1 record or the 34 goals PLNU has scored in 13 games.

The number is 63.

“We are very good at controlling the ball,” said Wolf. “We do a great job pushing the ball forward and creating pressure. We play the game differently from most other college teams that depend on athletic players and long balls.

“We keep the ball on the ground and use the short passes more popular in the European game. Statistics show we control the ball 63% of every game.”

PLNU junior midfielder Simon Sagal says “it’s rare to find a system like ours in the United States.”

“We want to control the ball. It’s a unique way of playing. We want the ball on the ground all the time. It’s a lot of work. It’s not an easy way to play. But it’s made us successful, and we’re good at it.”

Sagal, a Francis Parker High School grad, is one of 10 locals on the PLNU roster. Another one, senior forward Cole Friesen (Eastlake High School), calls it “a professional/European style.”

“It’s demanding and needs talented players. Control, pass and move,” he said. “We like to involve everyone in the attack. But I think this might be the deepest team Coach has ever had, and I think we have a chance to take this a long way in the postseason.”

Elijah Langford leads PLNU with 11 goals, but very few Sea Lions scores are solo efforts. Their 34 goals are accompanied by 33 assists; 14 different players have at least one point.

“Most our goals,” Wolf said, “are the result of a series of passes.”

The season has not been without hurdles for a Sea Lions team seeking a third straight PacWest Conference title and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

PLNU has given up 17 goals. And the Sea Lions have dealt with a number of maladies, most recently a hamstring injury to Langford.

“We’re very concerned, but hoping it’s just a tweak,” said Wolf. “We’re hoping for good news.”

Wolf uses a 4-3-3 alignment. In addition to a heavy local influence, the Sea Lions roster includes 10 players who transferred in from other colleges, including Friesen. The son of San Diego State women’s soccer coach Mike Friesen, he spent his first three seasons at Whitworth near Spokane, Wash.

“I wanted to do my own thing out of high school,” Cole Friesen said. “But when I decided to return home, I knew the Point Loma Nazarene community. My dad is an alum.”

Wolf said the Sea Lions “don’t hunt in the transfer portal.”

“A player has to show interest in us first,” he said. “I think our recent success and style of play is drawing interest. And I do love recruiting in our backyard. Southern California is the best area in the country for top quality players.”

Sophomore Jeremy Caringella (1.20 goals against average with four shutouts) has taken over as PLNU’s goalkeeper. The defense has sophomores Shawn O’Brien and Zion Yeboah, who are former club teammates from Temecula, on the wings. Juniors Ryan Doyle and James Metcalfe handle the middle.

The midfield is manned by the rotation of seniors Gael Ruiz (Hilltop and Christian high schools), Cal State San Marcos transfers Curtis Collazos and Diego Chavez, freshman Inaki Santamarina and Sagal.

If Langford is unavailable, Friesen will move inside from the wing, with Santamarina moving forward.

Sagal, who was an all-PacWest selection last year, has been limited in playing time this season after undergoing his third knee operation in four years. Also rotating into the PLNU lineup are junior forward Zack Mercieca and senior midfielder Niko Kaczmarczyk.

Fourteen Sea Lions have played more than 500 minutes this season, including senior defender Lisandru Susini, who started the season’s first nine games before being lost to an injury.

Friesen is No. 2 to Langford in scoring with 21 points on eight goals and five assists. Layman has eight goals and two assists, Santamarina has a goal and six assists, Collazos has a goal and five assists, Mercieca has two goals and two assists and Sagal has a goal and two assists.

“We’re actually getting healthier aside from our current concern with Langford,” said Wolf, who is in his 14th season as the Sea Lions’ head coach. “With Sagal playing more every game, we have more depth than we’ve ever had.”

Every week during the school year, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com.