This season, the Lancers are full of young talent that Aguilar is hoping will contend for a playoff berth in the competitive Metro League. Photo by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - New Cordova Lancers head coach Luis Aguilar has some big shoes to fill following the departure of former coach Eric McCahon, who had been at the helm of the soccer program for the past 20 seasons. Luckily for Aguilar, he knows exactly what he's getting into. 

Aguilar, 27, is a 2016 graduate of Cordova High School who played under McCahon for all four years on varsity. During his time at Cordova, he was a multi-time All-League player as a midfielder in the Sierra Valley Conference, including an MVP season in 2015. He played collegiately at Folsom Lake College before transferring to Southern Oregon University where he graduated in 2021.

Most recently, Aguilar served as an assistant coach under McCahon at Cordova, and currently coaches on the club level for the Folsom Lake Surf. For Aguilar, coming back to where it all started is special. 

"It means everything to be honest," he said. "I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else. I just want to be a role model and show those kids that it is possible to go out and make something of themselves."

 The Lancers will open up their winter season at home on Friday, November 21 in a matchup against visiting Rosemont. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Lancer Stadium. Photo courtesy of Luis Aguilar

Aguilar credits McCahon, who is now the head coach at Inderkum High School, for being one of the biggest reasons why he decided to pursue coaching. Being there firsthand, he was able to watch how McCahon helped develop his players on and off the field. Aguilar also looks out onto the soccer field and sees a lot of similarities between himself and his players and wants to give back to the community he came from. 

"Coach McCahon was a super big influence," Aguilar said. "Just seeing how he impacted the kids like myself. He helped me become who I am today. A lot of the ones that I'm coaching are a lot like me. They come from the same background, same demographic."

This season, the Lancers are full of young talent that Aguilar is hoping will contend for a playoff berth in the competitive Metro League. A pair of juniors in midfielder Misael Ceja Rojas and goalkeeper Arturo Juarez, along with sophomore midfielder Raul Aguilar, are some of the core group members that will be relied upon to make a big impact. For the new coach, talking playoffs in his first year is not out of the question. 

"Our goal is making it to the postseason," he said. "We're in a tough league, but in terms of talent and our schedule, I think we'll be able to make a postseason run."

The Lancers will open up their winter season at home on Friday, November 21 in a matchup against visiting Rosemont. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Lancer Stadium. 

Head coach Luis Aguilar, 27, is a 2016 graduate of Cordova High School who played under McCahon for all four years on varsity. Photo by Rick Sloan