2024 Season in Review - COD Men’s Soccer

Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Luis Gastelum, the #24 seeded Roadrunners Men's Soccer team ended the 2024 season claiming a 4th place finish in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC).

The complete list of All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference honorees can be found HERE

The Roadrunners finished the regular season, with an 8-11-2 overall record and a 3-5 conference record, wrapping up the regular season winning 2 of their final 6 games. They were rewarded with the 24th and final playoff seed in the Southern California Regionals.

Men's Soccer also collected some notable victories and games in 2024. The Roadrunners were back in the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs after a one-year absence, playing the Los Angeles City Cubs for the first time since 2001. They grabbed their first win ever over Canyons in their first time playing at Canyons, collected their first win at Santa Ana since 2021, remained undefeated all-time versus Bakersfield, played at Antelope Valley for the first time since 2019 and had their third straight season sweep of Victor Valley.

Sophomore defender Aidan Brothers (La Quinta H.S.) was named IEAC Defensive Player of the Year. He started 20 of 21 games for the Roadrunners and was the leading goal scorer on the team with 8 goals. Not only was he an offensive weapon, Brothers was a defensive wall and along with teammate, and fellow All-IEAC member, Cardiel Rivera-Meza, helped Desert to secure 5 clean sheets over the course of the season. Brothers also had the game winning goal, at home, in a 3-2 win over Victor Valley on October 11.

Sophomore midfielder Carlos Cervantes (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) was named First team All-IEAC after being named Second team All-IEAC in 2023. He started 14 of 19 games for the Roadrunners and sophomore midfielder Angel Hernandez (Thermal Coachella Valley) was also named First team All-IEAC. He started 9 of 18 games for the Roadrunners. Both Cervantes and Hernandez were key facilitators throughout the course of the season.

Freshman defender Cardiel Rivera-Meza (Thermal Desert Mirage) was named Second team All-IEAC. Both Rivera-Meza and Brothers were key in helping Desert to secure 5 clean sheets over the course of the season.

Freshman midfielder Hector Baltierra (La Quinta H.S.) was also named Second team All-IEAC. Started 18 of 20 games for the Roadrunners. Baltierra tied for second for the most goals scored on the team with 6 and tied for tops on the team in assists with 5. He had game winning goals at Santa Ana on August 30 and at home against Bakersfield on September 6.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.