Echo Times

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ryan Hevern A small group of fans chat idly on the sidelines at the soccer game against SRJC. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Ryan Hevern A player in the sparsely attended soccer game against Santa Rosa Junior College, Sept. 7 at COM. [Click to enlarge]

Where have all the students gone? College of Marin students have appeared to pull a Houdini act at our sporting events. Our fall sports have already kicked off. The seasons for football, and men and women's soccer are underway, and they are all exciting games to watch.

Fan attendance is close to nothing at these games. COM sports needs fan support to help light a fire under the athletes and coaches. Fan support gives the players a greater reason to play the game. Coaches and players would be very pleased to see the stands at their fields filled with cheering fans. "Even though some COM teams haven't done great in past years, having a fan base would give a greatly needed jumpstart to these programs," athletic trainer Joseph Scarcella.

Teams in the past at College of Marin have not always had enough promise to win a league championship. This year there are some impressive teams. The men's soccer team is looking able to get to the playoffs. Last season they came close to the championship. This season that goal might be attainable. With thirty determined athletes, five returning, and a new head coach in Ben Studholme, the Mariners are looking to explode this season.

The women's soccer team has begun their season as well. In the past getting players to join has been tough. This year is no different. They have already had to forfeit a game due to lack of players. With only seven athletes right now they are not able to play any regulation games. The required amount of athletes is eight. Steven Sosa is the head coach.

The football team, the Mariners, have 35 athletes, and second year coach Chris Augusto is looking to push the program forward this year. He has put together a new young coaching staff. The assistant coaches are Kevin Ghee, Brent Moore, Eric Fanene, and Rob Parry. The Mariners are smaller than most opponents and could use the extra support from cheering fans at their home games. Football games can be seen every Saturday at 1 p.m.

The schedules for home and away games can be found at the College of Marin website under Athletics and PE.

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