KLAMATH FALLS – Things will look a lot different on the pitch for the Oregon Tech men's soccer team, as the squad returns just 13 players who saw playing time during the 2025 season. But for head coach Sean McManamon, a quality mix of impact freshmen and transfers will make an immediate difference as the Hustlin' Owls look to climb the Cascade Conference table.
 
Tech finished the 2025 season with a 7-6-5 record, finishing seventh in the final CCC standings and were picked to finish seventh this year by the league coaches.
 
The fifth-year head coach is excited for the challenge after losing seven starters.
 
"We have 15 new guys from last fall to this fall, training has been very competitive. Having new players and the talent we have this year opens the game in a good way. The boys know that everything is open and everyone has an opportunity."
 
The loss of a big senior class also sets up new roles for players, especially on the leadership side.
 
"I am excited for the developing leadership roles on our team. Our seniors lead the way, but I am also looking toward our junior class as we gave them so much experience as freshmen and sophomores and have been key contributors.  They have seen the league twice and know what to expect and what we have to do to succeed in this conference."
 
The biggest question mark for the Hustlin' Owls will come in the defensive third, as Tech must replace All-CCC keeper Harvey Bolland, along with both center backs and both outside backs – including 4-year starter Cooper Hunt.
 
The net-minder will be making their collegiate debut, as redshirt freshman Noah Harwood, redshirt sophomore Jonathan Laitinen and true freshman Carter Stewart are locked in a battle. Each of the trio has size – all over 6-foot tall, including Stewart at 6-foot-3 – with Harwood and Laitinen splitting time in goal during the 2026 spring scrimmage season.
 
"I am excited to see who wins the keeper battle," McManamon said. "Carter has a great passion for the game and a great IQ. Johnny got a lot of great minutes during our spring season and grown over the last two years. Noah redshirted last year, but we knew he still could have been a guy for us if not for Harvey - he has been strong this preseason. Our two preseason scrimmages will be crucial to determining who will take the reins."
 
The same can be said for the back line of defense, which will determine the shape the Owls will play this season. McManamon knows the framework is there.
 
"We didn't place as high as we wanted last year, but even though we were seventh in the standings, we placed third defensively and it showed the stoutness of our structure, and we have to continue to build on it."
Physical, fearless and confident play will determine who will see the field.
 
"I am itching to see us play to see who steps up," McManamon stated. "I want a back line that are tough and determined and rise under pressure, guys who will stick their chest out and lead. The less shots you have to face is better, so how well you set up your structure in front of you can help save the legs for those key moments in a game. We need to establish cohesiveness, players who work well with each other."
 
The skipper pointed to sophomore Eric McGuire as a key piece at a center back position. McGuire was inserted at times up front a season ago and finished with three goals, but will take over the role left by Hunt.
 
"Eric got some good reps last year and earned a start at center back during the CCC Tournament," McManamon said. "Yes, he pushed forward and scored some big goals for us, but we always knew he was a center back at heart."
 
Three players will also be in the mix – senior Tidus Paet-Vegas, transfer Yahir Ramos and freshman LT Armijo.  Paet-Vegas has battled injuries during his career but is ready to shoulder a load this season; Ramos was a 2-year starter at the College of the Sequoias and earned All-Central Valley Conference honors; while Armijo was an All-CIF Southern Section selection as a senior at Palos Verdes High and provides size at 6-foot-2.
 
"Tidus is a good shell and he has stepped up into his role as a senior," McManamon said. "The progress that Yahir has shown in the preseason has been tremendous. We have youth that can step in, LT is a big dude, is physical and can challenge."
 
The outside backs will have a preseason battle to determine the spots, with transfer Nathan Becerra leading a quality crew. Becerra was a 2-time All-Western States Conference pick at Oxnard CC. Freshman Moxy Simmons, an All-Southwest Conference pick at South Medford High and senior Andre Ramirez (also a South Medford grad) are squarely in the mix, along with redshirt freshman Sammy Villalta and freshman Luis Barajas from Westview High, who can interchange between both back line spots.
 
"Nathan is very talented, very experienced and has a keen eye for the game," McManamon said of the transfer. "Moxy is supremely athletic and has a chance to build his way through the ranks. Andre is experienced and knows what we are looking for and can adapt to the situation."
 
In the holding midfield slot, the Owls have tons of experience, as senior Kasey Smith and junior captain Anthony Aguiar both return. Smith started 14 games last season and was key to the defensive success, while Aguiar was one of four players to start all 18 games, finishing the season with two assists. Sophomore Lucas Kay-Wong looks for increased playing time after seeing action in six games in 2025, Rogue CC transfer Koby Ibarra was an All-NWAC pick and has key big-game experience, while Klamath CC transfer Jonathan Flores provides needed depth.
 
"Kasey has played so well for us in the defensive midfield and continues to play at a high level," McManamon said of his senior. "Anthony is our solo captain to start this season and has been very good in training. Lucas is a very versatile player, very athletic and is very passionate. Koby is a rotational piece who can play anywhere in the middle."
 
Two-year starter Merrick Tambio returns in the center-mid role after an outstanding 2025 season. The junior is the top returning scorer from last year, posting three goals and two assists. He will be joined by returner Cristian Sanchez who made five starts last season, along with transfer Lello Sguera, who earned All-NWAC honors last year at Klamath CC. Freshmen Elijah Rodriguez from Westview High and Ahlias Gonzalez from Barstow High in California will press for playing time.
 
"Merrick has been very good at the 10 for us, he is very creative," McManamon said. "He has a different eye for the game than what you typically see in college.  Cristian is pushing for a starting role and wants to play. Lello came into our program during the spring and I love his desire."
 
For the Owls to have success, they must increase their scoring output, as in 2025, Tech was limited to fewer than two goals in 13-of-18 matches.
 
"We need to increase our goal scoring as we struggled with that last season," McManamon stated. "We can't hide from that. We have some statistical goals we will strive for per game and must achieve them."
 
Speed and creativity on the outside will be crucial, with four experienced players looking to share the roles. Junior Cash Cota has played in 34 games in an OIT kit, recording four goals and four assists, with senior Elias Castro leading the club with three helpers last season – despite playing in just nine contests. Junior Cannon Spooner is poised for a breakout season after playing in all 18 matches last season, while transfer Kevin Alvarenga a year removed from leading all California junior college players with 16 assists at Lake Tahoe CC. Freshman Dane Nakagawa, from Hawaii, will use the year as a redshirt season as he recovers from injury.
 
"I love our options in our attack," McManamon said. "Cash has had a lot of game experience over the last two years and is a big leader for us. Cannon is a dangerous winger, he really had a great spring season and am excited to see that translate into the fall."
 
It's been nearly three years that an OIT forward has scored more than five goals in a season, but a quartet of strikers look to end that drought.
 
Both senior Dalton Rideout and redshirt sophomore Andrew George will be counted on to produce – Rideout looking to rekindle the magic of his freshman season where he posted six goals in a reserve role, with George getting playing time last year and throughout the spring season.
 
Two newcomers will be key – freshman Layne Worrell of Henley High and Raul Arzola from Merced CC. Worrell is a 2-time 4A All-State selection and proven goal scorer, while Arzola was a 2-time All-Central Valley Conference pick, scoring 15 goals over the past two seasons.
 
"Andrew George and Dalton Rideout have been in those 9-roles and we need them to have a good year," McManamon said. "Dalton has worked extremely hard during our preseason and now as a junior, Andrew is building and learning and we hope he can step into his stride after good experience over his first two years. We've watched Layne for the last four years and are excited to have him in the ranks, he has been very, very dangerous in the preseason and we hope that translates into game time. Raul brings tons of experience from the junior college ranks."
 
Tech opens the season next week with a match-up against Simpson, beginning an extremely tough month of games. The Owls will head to Arizona for contests at Benedictine Mesa and Embry-Riddle, make a trip to California to meet Pacific Union, while both Arizona Christian and The Master's head to the Basin over Labor Day weekend.
 
McManamon knows the 6-game stretch will be key for the Owls.
 
"A successful season is making progress from last season. We are never going to set our sights below No. 1. Our success will be developed during the preseason. We have some good teams on the schedule ahead of us and know we will have to adapt to smoke, temperature and travel."
 
The 12-game conference ledger will be a grind, but the Hustlin' Owls will meet each of the six teams ahead of them in the CCC poll in Klamath Falls – including national tournament teams Eastern Oregon, Carroll, Warner Pacific and Rocky Mountain.
 
As head coach, McManamon's teams are 19-4-6 on the campus grounds.
 
"We have a good run of home games this season and it's a must that we protect the home turf."