Panthers Complete 2025 Season with Improved Record and Postseason Appearance
The Chaffey College men's soccer team closed the 2025 season with measurable growth and a return to postseason action, advancing to the 3C2A SoCal Regionals and finishing with a 12-6-4 overall record and 6-3-1 in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC). The season reflected a substantial step forward from the program's 2024 finish of 7-9-6 overall and 3-2-3 in conference play, demonstrating improved attacking consistency, stronger defensive coordination, and a deeper, more balanced roster.
Chaffey's forwards showed marked progress throughout the season, totaling 58 goals and 44 assists across 22 matches. Sophomore Julio Martinez delivered one of the most productive seasons in the conference, finishing with 13 goals and 15 assists for 41 points and earning IEAC Player of the Week honors twice. Sophomore Diego Garcia added another dependable scoring presence with eight goals and eight assists and was recognized as an IEAC Player of the Week for his impact in the attacking third. Freshman Kevin Velasquez emerged as one of the IEAC's most dynamic first-year forwards, producing 11 goals and two assists across 18 matches while also earning an IEAC Player of the Week accolade. Freshman Victor Ramos added timely scoring with six goals and two assists, providing depth in the attacking rotation.
The midfield provided structure and creativity that fueled Chaffey's attacking momentum. Freshman Ernesto De Lara contributed three goals and four assists, showing strong vision and composure in central channels. Sophomore Adrien Vazquez added three goals and five assists as one of the team's most versatile two-way midfielders, consistently winning possession and helping connect Chaffey's buildup play. Freshman Mateo Soria added two goals and one assist in 15 appearances, while sophomore Luis DeAnda had a late-season surge with five goals and one assist in just eight matches, giving the Panthers an additional finishing presence down the stretch.
Defensively, the Panthers demonstrated steady organization supported by multiple first-year contributors who logged significant minutes. Freshman Alesandros Sanchez started all 21 matches, providing consistency along the back line while contributing two goals and two assists, and earned an IEAC Player of the Week selection for his defensive impact. Freshman Alberto Gomez added 20 starts and contributed one goal and six assists from a defensive role, excelling in long-range service and set-piece delivery. Sophomore Ryan Pruitt brought experience to the unit with 17 starts, one goal, and two assists, while defenders Aiden Cardenas, Armando Diaz, Tauj Richardson, and Alex Andrade Portillo supplied depth across various phases of play.
In goal, freshman Christian Hernandez and sophomore Fernando Monteon combined to stabilize Chaffey's defensive third. Hernandez took on the bulk of the workload, appearing in 15 matches with 12 starts, recording 43 saves with a .662 save percentage while facing sustained pressure during several high-volume shooting halves. Monteon added eight starts of his own, posting 31 saves and an impressive .775 save percentage, allowing just nine goals across his appearances. Together, the duo combined for 74 saves and multiple key performances that kept the Panthers competitive in tight matches and late-season conference play.
Chaffey showed continued improvement in its spacing, tempo management, and ability to generate scoring opportunities through combination play. The team's balanced scoring, increased midfield cohesion, and strengthened defensive organization allowed the Panthers to remain competitive against multiple regionally ranked opponents and secure a return to postseason competition.
With a large portion of the roster set to return, the Panthers enter the 2026 season with the foundation of a more experienced, more cohesive squad. The growth demonstrated throughout the 2025 season positions Chaffey to continue rising within the IEAC and reestablish themselves as postseason contenders in the years to come.