The best way to describe the 2015 California men’s soccer team: resilient. The Vulcans find themselves heading into the last game of the regular season this weekend already clinched a playoff spot and in sixth place in the PSAC standings. For a team that lost one of the best players in program history in Jeffrey Kyei, they have done pretty well to replace the offensive firepower Kyei brought every game. Scoring wise, Cal is led by Senior Jesse Scheirer who has had a breakout season after transferring from Vermont two years ago.

    Scheirer has scored nine goals and 20 points to lead the team in each category and has also been named PSAC Men’s soccer player of the week once this season back in September after scoring four goals in three games. Along with the play of Scheirer, his classmate Lubos Kubik who has been around with the program in all four years at Cal is having his best season as a Vulcan in his final season. Kubik leads the team with nine assists which has doubled his career total of assists of four and is second only to Scheirer with 13 points.

    The Vulcans needed Kubik to step up this season and he has put together a strong season after improving every season. Cal has strong senior leadership however, the team is still relatively young and some of these younger players have begun to make a name for themselves. Freshman Eric Campbell is one of those young talented players that have made an instant impact on the team. Campbell transferred after not playing at the Air Force Academy and has compiled five goals which are second to Scheirer and also third on the team with 11 points. Vulcan soccer fans might recognize the name Campbell from Eric’s older brother Scott who played for the Vulcans from 2010-2013. The youth movement also is spotlighted for the Vulcans in net with freshman Lucas Exner taking over the goaltender duties.

   Exner has appeared in 12 games this season and has started nine compiled five wins and three shutouts. Exner put together two of those shutouts this past week against Pitt-Johnstown and Shippensburg which gained him PSAC men’s soccer player of the week honors. Exner’s .808 save percentage is second best in the PSAC and is the first Vulcan goalkeeper to win the weekly honors since Charlie Dagnal in 2011.

    With the Vulcans solidified in the playoffs, they will honor five seniors on Saturday against Lock Haven, a team that sits right in front of them in the standings. With a win, Cal can jump the Bald Eagles and improve their playoff positioning. Last season the Vulcans snuck in to the playoffs only to lose to Seton Hill 1-0. An improved record has shown this 2015 season to be a success for the Vulcans but the job is not done.