Head coach Gilbert Zamora Jr. is committed to re-establishing a winning culture with Ceres High’s boys soccer program.
The Bulldogs missed the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs the last two years.
“Our expectations as a team are very high,” he said. “We have more experience than last year. We only lost three players. Pretty much everybody came back. If we can stay healthy, we can go far.”
Approximately 30 Ceres High student-athletes tried out for the 2024-25 team.
Eighteen players earned roster spots, including Noel Arana (Sr.), Daniel Cardenas (Sr.), William Duran (Sr.), Fabian Montanez (Sr.), Enrique Murillo (Sr.), Ismael Pulido (Jr.), Samuel Vargas (Sr.), Juan Velasquez (Sr.), Leo Baez (Jr.), Fernando Galvan (Jr.), Eli Lopez (Jr.), Jayson Trevino (Jr.), Delqui Altunar (So.), Angel Perez (So.), Sebastian Sanchez (So.), Jesus Torrez (So.), Mario Vargas (So.) and Gabrial Farias (Fr.).
Arana, Cardenas, Duran, Montanez, Murillo, Vargas, Baez, Galvan, Trevino, Altunar, Perez and Torrez are returners.
Velasquez (Sr.), Lopez (Jr.), Pulido (Jr.), Sanchez (So.), Vargas (So.) and Farias (Fr.) are newcomers.
The Bulldogs lost four players to graduation: Luis Flores, Alexander Lopez, Christopher Vega and Jesus Moreno.
“We’re still working on a starting lineup,” Zamora said. We’re giving players an opportunity to show what they have. A lot of the players understand the game of soccer and are disciplined.”
Murillo was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year as a junior.
He collected 12 goals and two assists while starring at forward in league play.
He ranked first on the team in scoring.
He accumulated 17 goals on the year.
Vargas was named to the WAC Second Team as a junior. The attacking midfielder had two goals and three assists.
Cardenas and Duran were honorable-mention selections as juniors.
Duran had two goals and one assist while logging playing time at right and left midfielder.
Cardenas, a center midfielder, had one assist.
Cardenas, Murillo and Vargas have been named team captains.
“They were selected by me and (assistant coach) Ozzie Ramos,” Zamora said. “They have experience. They’re leaders.”
Ramos has been a member of Zamora’s coaching staff for the past three seasons.
The 2014 Central Valley grad played NCAA Division-I soccer for San Diego State and Seattle University.
He’s competed at the professional level for the past six years.
Ramos suited up for Carolina Core FC of the MLS Next Pro League during the fall.
“He grew up here,” Zamora said. “He trained my kids and one of my sons’ traveling teams. He dedicates a lot of time to the community. We’re lucky to have him around. He makes my job easier. He has experience. He’s very professional. He knows the game. He knows how to talk with and motivate players.”
The Bulldogs compiled a 7-11-2 overall record and placed sixth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 5-8-1 mark during the 2023-24 school year.
Ceres High dropped out of playoff contention after losing four straight games during the second half of conference play.
The Bulldogs welcome the challenge of competing in the new-look WAC this winter.
The conference features eight teams: Ceres High, Central Valley, Livingston, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop and Pacheco.
Central Valley and Livingston were previous members of the Central California Conference and Trans Valley League, respectively.
The two schools relocated to the WAC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.
“It’s going to be tougher this year,” Zamora said. “At least seven of the teams have won league titles in the past.”
“We’re excited to play Central Valley,” he added. “But we’re not too worried because we’re the underdogs. They have a good team every year. Whoever wants it more, that’s going to be the difference.”
Zamora believes Ceres High is headed in the right direction.
The Bulldogs claimed their last league title in 2020-21. Ceres High finished first in the WAC South standings. Playoffs were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ceres High has won two section titles (2019-20, 2009-10) during its program history.
“In soccer, there’s good times and bad times,” Zamora said. “I believe we can get back to the strong team we used to be. We have good players. We train to win. And that brings confidence.”
