San Francisco State University men’s soccer club is eager for a fresh start in the West Coast Soccer Association Norcal Division I League after last season’s promotion from Division II.
The club held its first day of tryouts on Thursday at the Mashouf Wellness Center field to recruit potential new talent to its squad for the upcoming season.
“Getting first place in WCSA NorCal League Division II and securing promotion to Division I took a lot of hard work and a lot of commitment to train every day or three times a week,” said Sage Urbaez, a team captain and midfielder. “Luckily enough, we’re able to recruit good talent from last season’s tryouts, and the team effort that helped our team succeed.”
Right-winger Abdullah Khurram, a key player for the club, scored a 90th-minute game-winner goal against Stanford last season.
“It was a really good journey last semester for us. We’re glad to be in the first division,” Khurram said. “I’m excited to see some new talent and new faces, and hope to be able to recruit a few players who are going to support the team from a different perspective.”
On the first day of the tryout, more than 26 students participated for a potential spot on the team. Ilyes Ijjaali, an international student from France, decided to join the tryout and was excited to see the level, intensity and technicality of the players at SFSU.
“I’m very excited to join the team, it could be a great experience for me joining the football team,” Ijjaali said. “Because I love football, and joining a team could be a great opportunity for me, meeting new players, new people. So far, the tryout has been very intense.”
Luis Cardenas is the club’s former president and founded the club in Fall 2023 with four other students. Ever since then, the club has been on a strong journey. After Cardenas graduated from SFSU last year, the team had to adapt without his guidance.
“Luis was one of the most crucial members in the whole sector, and not having him around will be difficult,” Khurram said.
Daniel Rodriguez, the current club president, spoke about the impact that Cardenas left behind.
“We’ve all got accustomed to having Luis here, who used to be part of our brotherhood as part of our family,” Rodriguez said. “He was ordered in the club, but he was also a counselor and a guide to us. If it wasn’t for him coming up with the idea and whoever else helped him with club soccer, we wouldn’t be here speaking about Division I, Division II or UC Irvine. I think we owe Luis a lot of respect, and it’s definitely hard coming to practice and not seeing him, because he’s always helpful and was always willing to contribute and be there for the team in whatever way possible.”
After SFSU’s NCAA Division II men’s soccer team was cut as part of broader cuts to the athletics department last year, this club was left as the only team to represent men’s soccer on campus. Rodriguez thinks that after the elimination of the athletics team, there are more eyes on the club team.
“It’s been better for the club soccer because we’ve been getting more attention and more people interested,” Rodriguez said. “It’s unfortunate that the Gator men’s soccer team had to go through that, but I wish it had still existed, because it would have been nice to be able to get along with them and run events with them.”
Men’s club soccer is planning to host a tournament at the Mashouf Wellness Center field and is geared to participate in the UC Irvine tournament in April.
The club will be having its only home game of the season against Santa Clara University at Cox Stadium on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
