Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Manuel "Pato" Hurtado, the #10 seeded Roadrunners Men's Soccer team ended the 2021 season claiming their 7th Conference championship and the second consecutive Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) Coach of the Year award for a Desert head coach.

Hurtado was awarded as Coach of the Year finishing the regular season, with a 12-6-3 overall record and a 6-2 conference record, wrapping up the regular season winning 7 of their final 9 games. They were rewarded with the 10 seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

Watch the interview with 2021 IEAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year, COD head coach Manuel "Pato" Hurtado, HERE

The complete list of All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference honorees can be found HERE

Men's Soccer also collected some notable victories and games in 2021 as they defeated Norco, on the road, for the first time in program history, played Golden West for the first time since 2004 and played LA Mission for the first time since 1995.

Forward Jorge Quintero (Thermal Coachella Valley) was named the IEAC MVP, joining an elite group of Desert Men's Soccer players as the Roadrunners have won the last three consecutive Conference MVP awards. The 5-foot 7, 140-pound freshman played in all 21 games for the Roadrunners in 2021, starting in 18 of them and was the state leader in goals for most of the season, ending the year in a four-way tie for fourth in the state, with 17 goals. Quintero had five game winning goals and was 3 for 3 on penalty kicks in 2021. He had four multi-goal games, including a "hat trick" at home against Imperial Valley on September 7. Quintero's biggest game winning goal of 2021 was a 1-0 victory at Norco, where the Roadrunners defeated Norco, on the road, for the first time in program history.

Midfielder Ramon Felix (Thermal Coachella Valley) was named First team All-IEAC, finishing second on the team in goals, with 8, and tied for first on the team in assists, with 9. The 5-foot 8, 150-pound sophomore played in 19 of 21 games for Desert, starting 17 of them and had a "hat trick" at home against Imperial Valley on September 7.

Goal keeper Sebastian Ascencio (La Quinta H.S.) was also named First team All-IEAC, spending the bulk of the minutes in net for the Roadrunners, 1620 minutes, ranking him 12th in the state in minutes played. The 6-foot 3, 205-pound freshman played in 19 of 21 games for Desert, starting 17 of them, collecting four shutouts, including three clean sheets in Conference play.

Defender Ezequiel Minero (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) was also named First team All-IEAC, finishing third on the team in goals scored with 4, including 3 game winning goals. The 6-foot 0, 175-pound sophomore played in 18 of 21 games for Desert, starting 14 of them. Minero's biggest game winning goals of 2021 were a 2-1 victory at Santa Ana on September 24 and a 2-1 win at Chaffey on October 12.

Defender Vincenzo Costagliola (Palm Springs H.S.) was also named First team All-IEAC, helping anchor a defense that collected five shutouts in 2021. The 6-foot 2, 185-pound sophomore played in 17 of 21 games for Desert, starting 15 of them.

Forward Leo Jimenez (Rancho Mirage H.S.) was named Second team All-IEAC, finishing third on the team in assists with 5. The 5-foot 5, 150-pound freshman played in 20 of 21 games for Desert, starting 15 of them.

Midfielder Emmanuel Munoz (La Quinta H.S.) was also named Second team All-IEAC, finishing tied for fourth on the team with 3 goals, including 2 game winning goals. The 5-foot 7, 160-pound sophomore started all 21 games for the Roadrunners in 2021. Munoz's biggest goals of 2021 were the game winner in a 3-2 victory at San Diego Mesa on September 10 and the game winner in a 2-1 win on Sophomore Day at home versus Norco on November 9.

Defender Elijah Chavez (Cathedral City H.S.) was also named Second team All-IEAC, scoring his lone goal of 2021 in a huge 2-1 at Santa Ana on September 24. The 6-foot 1, 160-pound freshman played in all 21 games for Desert, starting 18 of them.

Defender Jason Teran (La Quinta H.S.) was also named Second team All-IEAC, helping anchor a defense that collected five shutouts in 2021. The 6-foot 0, 150-pound sophomore played in 16 of 21 games for Desert, starting 15 of them.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).