SPORTS 30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 13-19, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com In their three seasons of existence, Monterey Bay FC has never finished higher than 11th in the USL Championship Western Conference standings. The league’s foremost analyst, John Morrissey, anticipates more of the same as the 2025 campaign gets underway—12th place, well out of playoff contention. Bring the matter to members of the squad, however, and expectations are much different. “Playoffs are the minimum,” says Adrian Rebollar, the midfielder from Watsonville entering his fourth season with the Union. The question, he adds, is how deep of a run the club will make come postseason. The confidence is born from the same factors that makes Morrissey so doubtful. Head coach Jordan Stewart and technical director Simon Dawkins spent the offseason overhauling a team that struggled to an 8-10-16 record in 2024. Gone are leading scorer Tristan Trager and stalwart goalkeeper Antony Siaha, whose 102 saves were second in the conference a year ago, among others. While they retain a core of returnees, 13 new faces dot the 23-man roster. Team captain Nico Gordon is a 22-year-old fresh from the MLS developmental league. The trio hoping to replace Siaha—Nico Campuzano, Samuel Gomez and Dallas Odle—are all newcomers with just eight years of professional experience combined. “The first couple of days I was learning names,” Odle admits. But, says Jacob Muir, a defender who spent the last four years with Perth Glory FC in Australia, “Fresh faces can be a good thing for a club. We all have the same goal—and it’s non-negotiable for us.” MBFC made a playoff run in that first season before slipping down the standings in the final weeks. Last year, after suffering a 4-1 belting at Louisville City FC, the team brought in Stewart mid-season. Dawkins, a former Union midfielder, was added to the technical staff during the offseason. Stewart and Dawkins are familiar with each other, having been teammates on the MLS side San Jose Earthquakes. Stewart has experience coaching young players after a stint with San Jose’s developmental squad. Grant Robinson, who has been with the side since the inaugural 2022 season, says the new technical staff and incoming players have brought a changed approach. After three years in the cellar, transforming the squad is a necessary aspect of soccer as a business. “And we’re here to take care of business,” he adds. Preseason training was marked by a confidence that belies the team’s youth and the expectations of outsiders. Although players start the season realistic that it may take time for the pieces to come together, they are finding strength in their relative inexperience together. “Nico has been a leader since he came in,” observes Xavi Gnaulati, a 20-year-old midfielder who joined the side a year ago. Gordon is a Montserrat international who played with Birmingham City FC in the EFL Championship before leading MLS NXT side North Texas SC to the league title, as captain. He anchored a back line that conceded just 32 goals on the season and was named to the league’s Best XI. More importantly, Gordon adapted quickly to Stewart’s style of composed aggressiveness. “He knows what he wants out of us and knows what we can give,” Gordon says of the head coach. At 22 years old, Muir has three seasons of A League play and has proven himself to be a durable defender, as a starter as well as off the bench. With Gordon’s stinginess, the steady play of Robinson and the ability of Carlos Guzmán to win duels and distribute from the back line, MBFC’s defense could be formidable once they get to know each other on the pitch. “It’s important to take it week by week,” he says. “This team is capable of beating anyone.” On the attack, newcomer Adam Larsson is likely to be a weapon out of Stewart’s flexible 4-3-3 formation. Playing with IFK Mariehamn in Finland’s top flight a year ago, the diminutive forward tallied 14 goals. In 2022, with Ekenas IF, Larsson pummeled the opposition with 17 goals in 21 matches. There are other weapons up front, including Anton Søjberg, who scored 10 goals last year, his first playing at Denmark’s top level, with B36 Torshavn. Big man Luther Archimede, a Guadalupe international, returns from a knee injury that cut his 2024 MBFC campaign short. And Alex Dixon looks for a return to form. After notching at least 11 goals for three consecutive seasons, he managed just four last season. What may help the squad gel is a midfield roster that does include some familiar names. Rebollar and the attack-minded Mobi Fehr have been with the squad from the beginning. Carmel-native Pierce Gallaway made an impression in his rookie season. Gnaulati also has a year under his belt with the team. There are only two additions at the position, Ethan Bryant from MLS NXT and Wesley Fonguck, on loan from Ebbsfleet United in the English National League. The regular season kicked off on March 8 with a 1-0 loss at San Antonio FC. It wraps up 34 games later on Oct. 25, at home against Las Vegas Lights FC. That’s when fans will know for certain whether the pundits or the players are right. But the team has set its purpose. “With the core guys we have some unfinished business,” Gnaulati says. Monterey Bay FC vs. Oakland Roots SC 7pm Saturday, March 15. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $19-$66. 324-2560, montereybayfc.com. No Doubts A revamped Monterey Bay FC squad has set the playoffs as a ‘non-negotiable’ goal. By Dave Faries From left to right: Mayele Malango, Anton Søjberg, Adam Larsson (above), Grant Robinson and Ilijah Paul celebrate a Søjberg goal during a preseason match. Of this group, only Robinson was part of last season’s squad. COURTESY OF MONTEREY BAY FC Nico Gordon, a 22-year-old newcomer to the team, was named captain. COURTESY OF MONTEREY BAY FC
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