When the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team stepped off the pitch for the final time in 2009, one thing was certain: The Lance Thompson era hit the ground running and headed into a new direction in the history of the program. 

CPP completed Thompson's first year as head coach in 2009 in record fashion with a non-losing season (10-8-1 overall, 8-7-1 CCAA) for just the 8th time in the program's 27-year history. It was the sixth winning season in history and only the fifth time CPP completed a season with double-digit victories. 

So the question is: What do the Broncos do for an encore? 

“We want to continue to build upon last year's success,'' Thompson said. “I'm looking forward to taking it one-game at a time and being focused on the now. The energy need to be focused on the present.'' 

CPP welcomes back 11 players from a year ago and leading the way is all-CCAA forward Tyler Reinhart. The Fresno native led CPP in scoring and went on to establish a school-record and conference-tying effort with four goals in its 4-2 upset win over defending NCAA champion CSU Dominguez Hills. 

In his three seasons, Reinhart ranks sixth all-time in goals (15), seventh in assists (10), fifth in total shots (129) and sixth in total points (40). 

“The stats are great, but what impresses me the most is that Tyler has stepped up in terms of leadership,'' Thompson said. “He's a dynamic player for us and was a big part of our success last year. We look forward to having him continue to improve in 2010.'' 

The Broncos are experienced on the defensive end. They allowed just 23 goals in '09, one more than the school record of 22 in 1998. CPP lost by more than one goal only twice in CCAA play and the four-game stretch of 1-0 games (10/16-25) in which CPP went 3-1 is the only time in school history that four consecutive games have been decided by a 1-0 score. 

Defenders Justin Valashinas (Manhattan Beach), Nathan Braunwalder (Alta Loma) and Daniel Gomez (Ontario) round out CPP's four seniors and look to give it a decided edge. 

“Our defense starts with our forwards,'' Thompson said. “Our defense is about our 11 guys; a team defensive concept. It's all about the sum of the parts. The guys believe and saw what can happen when we are all on the same page together.'' 

Sixteen players were lost to graduation or did not return and that kept Thompson and his coaching staff on the recruiting road this past offseason. They hope that the influx of talent will pay off when the Broncos begin the 2010 season on Sept. 2 at home against Notre Dame de Namur. 

Junior Luis Gonzalez (Long Beach) was selected as the NSCAA Player of the Year at Cerritos College. The forward established school records of 27 goals and 18 assists and leads a group of five teammates who join him at CPP. 

“Luis is a soccer junkie and has a nose for the goal,'' Thompson said. “Those guys who played with Luis at Cerritos are used to success. Ricky (Reyes), Fabian (Perez), Anthony (Iniguez) and Juan (Mejia) won a state title as freshmen. They know the game well and prepare well.'' 

Joining the Cerritos Five are MF Nicholas Jimenez (Norco/Mt. SAC) and four juniors from Fresno City College – D Victor Gutierrez (Fresno), F/MF Jonathan Enns (Fresno), MF Luis Espino (Strathmore) and F Wuta Beta (Fresno). 

“Nicholas was on a state junior college championship team from a year ago, and the Fresno guys all played on state Final Four teams in each of the past two seasons,'' Thompson said. “We've brought in a lot of people who are used to being successful. And that feeds off on the other guys.'' 

Thompson also said that junior F Sam Morales was enjoying a solid preseason camp. The Yorba Linda native played his first two seasons at nearby Santiago Canyon College. 

Here is the breakdown of the 2010 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
Goalkeepers (4): Sophomore Tony Iniguez, sophomore Chris Otani (Miliani, Hawaii), sophomore James Iles (Claremont), freshman Andrew Todd (Half Moon Bay).
Forwards (6): Senior Tyler Reinhart, junior Jonathan Enns, junior Sam Morales, sophomore Jesus Mitre, junior Luis Gonzalez, junior Wuta Beta.
Midfielders (10): Junior Sean Gurley (Carlsbad), junior Fabian Perez, junior Nicholas Perez, junior Nick Costanza, junior Ricardo Reyes, junior Anthony Salcedo (Whittier), freshman Ian Trantow (Riverside), junior Juan Mejia, junior Luis Espino and junior Luis Garcia (Escondido),
Defenders (7): Freshman Sean Sweeney (Benicia), junior Victor Gutierrez, senior Nathan Braunwalder, senior Justin Valashinas, senior Daniel Gomez, junior Russell Vernon (Murrieta) and junior Justin Smith (Alpine).

Broncos picked to finish 4th in CCAA South
Sonoma State and defending conference champion Cal State Dominguez Hills have been selected to win their respective divisions in the upcoming 2010 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season following a poll of the league coaches. 

Sonoma State was also the coaches' picks to claim the 2010 CCAA Tournament title after receiving six votes. Cal State Dominguez Hills garnered three votes, Cal Poly Pomona received two votes and Cal State Stanislaus was named on one ballot. 

Sonoma State was picked to repeat as North Division champion after receiving 65 points and 10 first-place votes. Cal State Stanislaus collected 61 points and one first-place vote and Chico State (43) was picked third after collecting one first-place vote. Humboldt State (34) was fourth and followed by Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State, who tied for fifth with 20 points apiece.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, coming off its ninth CCAA championship, was the coaches' pick to win the South Division after totaling 58 points and six first-place votes. Cal State San Bernardino finished second in the balloting after collecting 54 points and four first-place votes. Cal State L.A. was third with 47 points and Cal Poly Pomona was fourth with 42 points. The Golden Eagles and Broncos each received one first-place vote. UC San Diego placed fifth with 28 points and Cal State East Bay (14) was sixth.