Game Day
Palos Hills: Moraine Valley Soccer Eyes Breakout Season
Moraine Valley Community College men's soccer returns 15 players for a promising new season under head coach Chris Koloffon.
By Country Herald Staff · 2026-08-31T10:57:00.630Z
Palos Hills, IL – The Moraine Valley Community College men’s soccer team is entering the upcoming season with renewed expectations of success following a period of significant roster transition. Head coach Chris Koloffon, now in his seventh year at the helm, looks to leverage a veteran heavy squad to push the program into the regional spotlight. Last year, the team faced a steep learning curve while integrating 22 freshmen; however, this year, 15 of those players are returning with a year of collegiate experience under their belts. According to the official team report https://www.morainevalley.edu/2026/08/19/moraine valley mens soccer primed for breakthrough as experienced core returns/ , the team aims to capitalize on this continuity to secure a top position within their competitive conference.
The roster features a core of experienced defensive players, including captain and center back Jesus Villanueva, who played every game last season. Goalkeeper play is expected to be a major strength, with Giovanni Gonzalez returning to the net alongside transfer newcomer Guillermo Vences. Coach Koloffon stated that having two high level goalkeepers provides the squad with depth and reliability that should bolster their defensive efforts throughout the schedule. Brian McCracken and Nicolas Zaragoza are expected to challenge for significant roles alongside Villanueva on the backline, while Dimitri Latka and Rafael Ramirez provide returning experience at the fullback positions.
Offensive production will lean on the versatility of Diego Ochoa, identified by the coaching staff as the team’s most dangerous attacking threat. The return of Jamal Morad, who missed significant time last season due to injury, provides an additional tactical option in the front half of the field. Francisco Martinez is also being positioned as a potential breakout scorer this year. Several newcomers, including Sebastian Sanchez, Mohammad Saadeh, Joshua Grant, and transfers Ivan Pelayo and Elyas Edders, are expected to contribute immediately. While the team continues to search for a definitive lead goal scorer, the coaching staff expressed confidence that the current depth chart offers multiple players the opportunity to make an impact during the competitive season.
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