Men's Soccer All-Decade Team
The University of La Verne men's soccer program became a force in the 2000s under the direction of head coach Crescencio Gonzalez. The program's rise is reflected by the members on the All-Decade Team.
Defenders on the team include Andrew Tillehkooh, Eddy Geenen, John Helmer and Angel de Alba. The midfielders are Taylor Hart, Nahavi Mendoza, Gilad Hoffman and Francisco "Kiko" Escobedo. The All-Decade goalkeeper is Derek Ramirez.
Forwards include Art Pico and Daniel Aguirre.
At-large selections include Beto Valle, Josh Miller and Steven Lane.
Geenen was a four-year starter and First Team All-SCIAC defender in 2005 while Tillehkooh earned Second Team All-SCIAC honors in 2006 and 2007. de Alba was a First Team selection for the Leopards in 2008.
Among midfielders, Mendoza is a two-time Second Team selection (2008, 2009) while both Escobedo (First Team) was all-conference honorees in 2007. Hart earns the distinction of being on two of the Leopard All-Decade squads. He made the La Verne football All-Decade Team as both a defensive back and punt returner during his two seasons on the gridiron in 2007 and 2008. He made an immediate impact on the pitch with a First Team selection in 2009.
Pico was a standout forward for the Leopards in the from 1998-2001. He along with brother Lance Pico were one of the most formidable tandems in La Verne soccer history.
Lane (2004) and Valle (2007) were Second Team All-SCIAC selections.
La Verne finished second in the conference standings in both the 2005 and 2008 seasons. The Leos earned back-to-back appearances in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament in 2007 and 2008.
