Freshmen Keep Rolling

EAST PEORIA — The Illinois Central College mens soccer team’s freshman have stepped up big this year as was hoped for in the preseason.

“We are starting to get settled in,” said coach Oz Bakirdan about the team’s performance so far this year. “The freshmen are getting settled into their roles.”

The Cougars (7-2) are currently on a seven game winning streak this year. The team is currently averaging 2.9 goals a game against the 1.64 they are giving up a game.

“Right now our focus has been defensively,” said Bakirdan about the play lately. “We are a lot better than we started out.”

Since changing to Miguel Pinaloza in the net after the second match of the season the Cougars have only given up eight goals in those seven games.

“We haven’t lost since we put him in the net,” said Bakirdan.

Freshman Salomon Ocampo leads the team with six goals. He also leads the team in points, which is tallied by adding goals and assists, where a goal is worth two points and an assist is one.

“He puts himself in the right position a lot,” Bakirdan said. “[He is a] Very smart player and his hard work pays off.”

Second in goals so far this year is another freshman Carson Gray with five goals and one assist.

“He has really stepped it up,” said Bakirdan about the freshman. “Carson has been big for us finishing and scoring goals for us.”

Freshman Pedro Ocampo, the twin brother of Salomon, has also chipped in four assists, which leads the team.

The five sophomores on the team that are back from last year have scored four of the teams goals, but Bakirdan has been happy with the way they have helped to mentor the freshman and young guys.

“They have stepped up big and lead the team in training,” said Bakirdan. “They know they have to play a bigger role.”

Coach Bakirdan and the Cougars are excited as they get rival Lincoln College here at ICC on Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. In the last six years either the Cougars or Lincoln College has won the Region XXIV title. Last year, ICC broke through after two heartbreaking losses to the Lynx in 2011.

“We are looking forward to it,” said Bakirdan. “It is a great rivalry.”

In the new national polls that was released on Sept. 25, the Cougars received a national ranking of 18.

The Cougars had a big game on Sept. 25 against Parkland who is ranked 10 in the country. Check our website for a score there.

The next home game for ICC starts a three game home stand on Oct. 2 against Lincoln Land.