Boys soccer: Desert Vista tries to build on success

Desert Vista's boys soccer program has a history of success. One key ingredient to that success, though, is entirely intangible.

The Thunder, who won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, reached the state championship game for the third time in the past four seasons last February, falling short to second-seeded Brophy College Prep in overtime.

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Last season's team lost 10 seniors, including a group of eight that went on the play soccer collegiately. The drive to succeed and reach the next level, those eight said after the season, ultimately drew the squad together as it began to succeed on the field.

But DV coach Michael Rabasca says the drive goes even further than soccer goals.

"I don't necessarily agree that (the goal) has to be playing at the collegiate level or playing at the junior college level, or whatever it might be," Rabasca said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be playing. It's the qualities that go in to wanting to succeed at something else.

"They were looking past this as a way and a means to get them to where they wanted to go in life and I think that's an important part of their success last year and probably previous success for us."

The 2008-09 Thunder return several key cogs, including senior midfielder Aaron Brandt, who had four goals and three assists last season.

At the team's year-end banquet last season, Brandt was chosen by his teammates to lead the Thunder this season.

"Aaron has had enough time in and around our program that he knows some of the principals of some of the things we're trying to do to the extent that he can help facilitate that," Rabasca said. "I think he can. I think he is a team guy. He focuses on his performance as it relates to the team."

Gone among the seniors are leading scorer Brian Holmes, who is now playing at Humbolt State University in California, and two senior goalkeepers in Kyle Orne and Grant Gosselin. Orne is now playing at Bradley University in Illinois; Gosselin at Austin College in Texas.

"Those two were just outstanding," Rabasca said of Orne and Gosselin, who split time last season.

Senior Andrei Gardiola is expected to handle the goalkeeping duties this season.

"He kind of is the next to lead," Rabasca said. "We're looking forward to Andrei stepping up to not just what Kyle Orne and Grant provided, but what most of our goalkeepers have been able to provide over the years, and that's good, steady performance and making a few timely saves at the right moment."

Other returners include senior midfielders Sean Rice, Charlie Morrison and Arjun Sharma, and senior defender Kevin Mueller.

Despite the history of success, Rabasca said he's warned his team not to "get caught up in that they were state runners-up last year."

"I want to make sure that they don't live in the past, that they're kind of living in the now," he said. "Last year was a good year from many aspects and one thing was just the camaraderie and the way the team enjoyed being a team. They enjoyed working, they enjoyed practicing. They just loved to play the game and liked being around.

"If this team can focus on the process, then they'll do as well as they're capable of doing," he added. "If they just kind of focus on the end results or the outcome and don't put a lot of time into what needs to happen to get them there, then it could be a long season."