Glut of Coaches Could Pay Dividends for SCC

One reason for the high expectations of the Southern California College men’s soccer team might be the talented players whom Coach Dave McLeish has assembled.

McLeish, in his 11th season, said he has “eight players who could make an impact at Division I schools.”

But he also has the luxury of having two coaches on the field.

Juniors Mike Ditta and Martin Lippens play prominent roles for the Vanguards, but also spend some of their free time working with youth soccer players. Ditta coaches with the Mission Viejo Pateadores club and Lippens coaches the boys’ varsity at Marina High.

Both aren’t bad players either.

Ditta was a first-team All-Golden State Athletic Conference and NAIA Far West Region selection last season and Lippens was SCC’s team MVP and led the Vanguards in scoring.

Lippens, from Essen, Germany, coached club soccer for three years in Germany. His father is Willie Lippens, who coaches a second-division team in Germany and once played in the North American Soccer League.

“Martin knows the game real well,” McLeish said. “He can instruct and correct the players, but he does it in a good way.”

Lippens’ leadership could be a key in blending strong seniors, such as midfielder Chuy Miramontes and defender Matt Clement, with one of the most talented freshman classes McLeish has recruited.

McLeish said freshman goalie Matt Resor from Cypress High, and freshman midfielder Michael Murphy have made immediate contributions. Freshman Wilhem Moreles has scored two goals in SCC’s two victories and McLeish said another freshman has chipped in too.

“Yeah, this kid Josh McLeish is playing pretty good too,” said McLeish of his son, a freshman from Capistrano Valley Christian High. “We’ve got a nice mix of younger guys and seniors. We’re just not too deep.”

McLeish hopes his team is deep enough to reach the first NAIA championships in school history.

Unranked SCC will get a chance to prove itself this season facing Westmont, ranked fourth in the NAIA, ninth-ranked Simon Fraser (Canada), 13th-ranked Azusa Pacific and No. 24 Fresno Pacific.

“We’re in a tough region,” McLeish said, “but this should be the strongest team I’ve had here.”