EC's men's soccer coach and athletes collect numerous awards

EC men’s soccer coach, John Britton, was named the South Coast conference (SCC) coach of the year.

Britton also won his first SCC title in his 20-year tenure as coach of the men’s team and finished the regular season undefeated at home.

Accolades were distributed to several players from the EC squad. Four players were named into the All-SCC first team. Four Warriors made it into the second team and one received honorable mention.

Sophomore defender Garett Bucheli, and freshman defender Emmanuel Corona made the back line of the All-SCC first team.

Sophomore midfielder Branddon Cando and Sophomore forward Andy Nunez also made part of the attacking line in the first team.

In the second team, sophomores Jose Sanchez (goalkeeper) and Daniel Muro (forward) made the cut. Joining them were midfielder Charlie Gonzalez and forward Derick Hamilton, both sophomores.

Sophomore midfielder, Victor Guerrero, received honorable mention.

The accolades were the culmination of a highly successful season for the Warriors. EC clinched their first conference title on Nov. 11 after drawing with Compton College. The title was their first since 1991 and their sixth overall.

EC were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs when they lost 2-1 to Southwestern College on Saturday. The exit marks their third consecutive elimination in the same round.

Nunez led the team in goals with nine strikes and tied for leading scorer in the South Coast conference.

Gonzalez led the team and the SCC in assists with 10 chances created.

This is Cando’s second season in the All-SCC team. Last year he was placed in the second team.

The Warriors have won the state championship four times, their last in 1992.

“The players showed their emotion (after the goal),” coach John Britton said after they clinched the conference title. “I’m very pleased that we stuck it together. We were close two years ago and we kind of blew it with two games to go and we almost did the same here. I didn’t want history to repeat itself.”