ROCKLIN, Calif. - Coming off the Warriors' record-breaking season with their program's first postseason appearance in 2018, head coach Greg Lazaga concluded his fourth season with Jessup collecting his 24th overall win in the 2019 campaign, the second-most in program history.

As a coach, the Warriors' leader is motivated in competing at the highest levels, while representing God with vigor and passion.  He reflects on his collegiate career to guide the leadership of his team in a specific way as his playing experience marked several turning points in his life that shaped his future.  

"The goal for my guys is the same: work hard every day and in everything, focus on things you can control, finish the task with life and energy, and honor those you work for and love in the process.  I always hope that our players come away with these things firmly in mind for their futures on and off the field.

With new players and a large number of those individuals earning starting spots on the field, Lazaga described this past season as a transitional one for the Warriors. "We had seven new players that saw significant minutes throughout the season, that were not with us in the previous year.  One of the important pieces to the coaching side is finding the right combinations given their strengths.  Several of these showed tremendous promise." 

The Warriors closed out the 2019 campaign 4-11-2, facing a strong schedule in opponents such as NCAA DII Stanislaus State, nationally ranked Westmont, and national tournament attendees UC Merced, Menlo and Vanguard.

Lazaga agrees that strength of schedule and quality of opponents is key, but often, like this season, catches newer teams by surprise. "It felt like we were often waiting for opponents to make their move, instead of forcing opponents to adjust to us in the opening minutes of games.  I think this group is going to learn from those experiences in the year to come and growth for us will mean coming into next season with determination."

The Warriors opened the season against top competition in OIT, UAV and Div. II competitor Stanislaus State. Last year the Warriors walked away with the 2-1 victory over the top-level competitor in the Stan State Warriors and this year's competition was much the same as it took 20 minutes of overtime to decide the winner, which favored the home squad, 1-0.

After a series of small margin losses, the Warriors put together two big wins back-to-back in front of the home crowd.

First up, Norcal rival Simpson University. The Warriors trailed early but closed the margin with a pair of goals to close the first half locked at two apiece. It would be a late battle down the stretch as Jessup took the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute by Karam Idris, but the Red Hawks weren't done yet as a 79th-minute goal would tie it up again. None other than Idris would only take 30-seconds to answer back and secure the win for the Warriors to take their first win 4-3, extending the matchup win streak to seven over the Red Hawks. 

Next up was the record-breaking win against the Pacific Union Pioneers, 13-0. The Warriors scored a program-high in goals (13), points (33), shots (35) and second-best in assists (7) for a single-match outing. Leading the Warriors was senior Heriberto Trevino with individual-match records for most points (12), goals (6) and senior Johnny Muresan had a second-best total assist (4).

In what may have been their best outing of the season, the Warriors welcomed the Westmont Warriors for their conference opener on October 3rd where they held the No.4 team in the country scoreless through the better half of the opening period before the lone goal of the contest struck in the 35th minute. In the 1-0 defeat, the Warriors were the only team outside of NCAA DI opponents to hold Westmont to a goal or less in the regular season.

Jessup would grab another pair of wins against conference opponents in The Master's, 3-0 and Arizona Christian, 3-1. Their second tie of the season would come in a 1-1 lock with OUAZ in double-overtime as the Warriors out-shot the Spirit 25-17. Leading the Warriors on the season was Trevino with nine goals to conclude his two-year career in the royal and red with 13 total goals. Junior Paul Anderson was close behind with five on the season to bring his three-season total to 14, accompanied by 7 assists.

Defending the posts for the Warriors was Robert Sams who had a record-setting season in his 13 appearances, including 62 saves and allowing just 22 goals. The junior's stat line inked him in the record books in multiple categories as he looks to move up in his final season; eighth in total saves (62), fifth for saves per match (4.77), 2nd in save percentage (.738), 9th for most wins (3). 

Robert stepped into his role this year," coach Lazaga said.  "I think that not only his work in practice but also the extra work outside is what drove him to be ready for the moment this season.  He is one of those players always asking for more, and I love that.  As a result, when his moment came he was ready to compete."

In what was the Warrior's fifth-straight postseason accolade, senior Denilzon Puentes was awarded All-GSAC honors as the Warriors' top midfielder. He becomes the seventh all-time in program history to achieve this honor following last season's seniors Nick Garcia and Omar Magana.

But success for the Warriors was not only on the field but in the classroom where a record five players were honored with GSAC and NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition, tied for most all-time in a single season.

As Lazaga closes the chapter of another season with the Warriors, it's just the beginning as he continues to look to the future success ahead. "Next year we hope to build on experiences learned from this year.  I expect us to be back in the playoffs in 2020 with a returning class of seniors eager to compete and freshmen looking to make an impact the minute they step on the field.  If we work hard and strive together, we will reach that goal again real soon."   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).