CSUEB Men's Soccer Boasts Team-Record Three All-CCAA Honorees
Jeremy Romero (L), Steffen Sauer (C), and Michael Paiva (R) represent East Bay on the All-CCAA teams.
- November 6, 2015
For the first time in team history, three Cal State East Bay men's soccer players earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honors, it was announced Thursday evening at the conference's annual postseason banquet.
Sophomore forward Jeremy Romero, sophomore midfielder Michael Paiva and junior midfielder Steffen Sauer were all named 2015 All-CCAA honorable mention for the Pioneers. It's the first time the men's soccer program has had more than two honorees since joining the conference for the 2009 season.
"I'm very happy for these three student-athletes," said head coach Andy Cumbo. “It's a first for our program. Paiva built momentum as the season progressed and became a major contributor for us in the final half of the season. He helped our offense a great deal, and he is a great leader."
"Jeremy had a very good year overall and was quite a handful for defenders in October," Cumbo continued. "He's a very dynamic forward and is constantly improving. He's one of the best in the CCAA and has a high ceiling — he will continue to be a major player for us. Steffen Sauer is a fantastic player and a great role model. He's a total team player and I am sure he is celebrating this award with his teammates."
Romero had a breakout season for East Bay in his second year. He started all 17 games, played over 1,200 minutes, and tied for the team lead with 12 points and five goals. His 12 points in CCAA contests ranked fourth among all players in the conference, and his 53 total shots ranked third.
"I think I have come a long way since my freshman year, and without my teammates this wouldn't have happened," commented Romero. "They are always pushing to do better and to keep a competitive environment. Our trip last spring to England really improved the way I look at soccer and how I play. I learned so much from my coaches when we were there and I've been able to maintain that in my game since then. I will say I'm a different person because of that trip. I can't wait to keep moving forward with my teammates and keep trying to do better."
Paiva was another sophomore who emerged as one of the team's top weapons in 2015. In 16 games, he matched Romero with 12 points and five goals. He needed just 18 shots to do so, which gave him the second-highest shot percentage in the CCAA among field players. Paiva came off the bench to score in back-to-back games against Chico State and Cal Poly Pomona. He then started the final six games of the season and scored six points during that span.
"The trip we took to England last spring influenced me and my game a lot," Paiva noted. "I learned a lot from my coaches there and have tried to apply those coaching points ever since. I wouldn't be able to receive this award if it weren't for my teammates pushing each other to be better in every practice and every game. They all work hard to be better and force each other to step up to a higher level."
Sauer completed his third season as a regular in the Pioneer lineup. A bit of an unsung hero for East Bay, he started 15 games and logged nearly 1,000 minutes. Sauer scored all his points for the season in two straight contests as part of the team's season-best three-game winning streak in early October.
"I think this is a great recognition for me personally but also for the whole team," said Sauer. “As the season progressed we got better and better as a team, and the trip to England definitely helped us a lot to develop a great team spirit."
All three of Cal State East Bay's All-CCAA honorees will be back for the 2016 season next fall, as the Pioneers look to make a leap forward into the hunt for postseason competition in their highly competitive conference.
"We continue to improve each year and continually raise the level of our competitiveness," Cumbo added. "This is a great piece of recognition for our team and our athletic department. Congratulations to all three student-athletes for their continual hard work and perseverance."