PDL Feature
Friday, June 28, 2013
FRESNO, Calif. - Few clubs promise the atmosphere that the Fresno Fuego can provide. The longstanding PDL club from central California has featured some of the highest attendances and loudest fans in the league over the years. Their success off the pitch can be directly tied to their success on it. The Fuego have won the Southwest Division three times and reached the playoffs six times since 2003, as well as a U.S. Open Cup run that saw them reach the fourth round in their inaugural season before being eliminated by the LA Galaxy.
However, the 2012 season was not what Fresno had hoped for. The Fuego finished third in the division, just outside the playoff cut, even though they managed a solid 27 points.
“Last year left a bitter-sweet taste in our mouths,” said Fresno Fuego Captain Gaston Cignetti. “We started well in our first games and had a good run in the U.S. Open Cup. But the demanding traveling and accumulation of games while trying to play two tournaments can sometimes hurt you if you don’t have a deep roster. We suffered some injuries and lost some important points where we shouldn’t have. At the end of the year you look back at some games and you know where you could have done better.”
“Last year was a transition year,” Head Coach Scott Alcorn said. “Young players got valuable playing time…We only had two games last year with same starting 11. But, our young players still learned a lot.”
Cignetti’s 12 years of PDL experience, 11 of which have been with Fresno, make him one of the most seasoned players on the team and in the league. A tough box-to-box player, Cignetti has cashed in on five points in seven games this year. According to his coaches and peers, Cignetti turns 50/50 balls into something more like 60/40.
No newcomer to the Fuego either, Alcorn has been with Fresno since 2007. In the five-and-a-half seasons since Alcorn took the reins the Fuego have posted a 66-28-19 record, making them one of the league’s most successful franchises. Fresno has had a history of success on the field but one prize remains elusive, the PDL Championship.
“We’ve won the [conference] and division championships in the past. Even though these are great accomplishments I believe that we owe our fans and the Fuego organization a national title, and I think the rest of the club is looking for the same,” Cignetti said.
The 2013 season has brought high hopes for the Californian club. Currently the Fuego top the division with 25 points and are one of four undefeated teams left in the league.
“[Paul Islas] is the type of player that gives you the edge,” Cignetti said. “With him it’s like coming out 1-0 from the locker room. Islas also found a great partner up top with Tyler Reinhart.”
Alcorn echoed Cignetti’s statements.
“In our team all 26 players have a role and they do it well,” he said. “This is a humble group. No one really wants the spotlight. But with that being said we count on a few players to impact the game. Paul Islas is a pro. He’s dangerous every time he touches the ball. Tyler Reinhart has grown into one of the elite target forwards in the league.”
So far this season Islas has put away seven goals and notched five assists and target-man Reinhart has put away five goals of his own and equaled Islas in assists. However, attack will only take a team so far. Fresno has improved from a struggling defense last year that gave up 24 goals to an elite unite that has conceded just four times in 2013.
“Nick Murphy was our best addition this year. He’s the best central defender I’ve seen in this league,” Alcorn said. “Beau Diaz in goal is the reason our goals-against average is one of the best in the PDL. He’s made one or two big saves each game to keep us in the game until we put it away. And of course our team captain Gaston Cignetti. Our most veteran player leads by example. He wins most 50/50 balls and dominates in the air… His passion for Fresno Fuego is unmatched.”
“It’s not for nothing that people say great defense wins championships,” Cignetti said of his teammates on the backline.
Such a quick turnaround is quite the feat. Alcorn pointed out General Manager Jeremy Schultz and his assistant coaches as pivotal in Fresno’s rebound.
“After last year [Schultz] asked what I needed to improve our 8-5-3 record. Our local talent was running thin. I needed some out of town players to fill some spots. Ownership provided two apartments and Jeremy brought in six new players. This is the first year we’ve had apartments to offer and we recruited players,” Alcorn said. “I have one associate head coach and three more assistant coaches. I’m extremely grateful for these guys.”
“It’s great to play [at Fresno] because our management staff treats us like professionals, from the training facilities, locker room and the stadium we play in,” Cignetti said.
The off the pitch contributions to Fresno’s success come from more than just the front office. The boisterous crowd at Chukchansi Park helps Fresno claim points at home and offers extra motivation to the Fuego players.
“It means a lot to our players,” Alcorn said. “We don’t want to let the fans down. When we lose or don’t play well we feel like we’ve let the fans down. Our players enjoy the fans as much as they enjoy watching us. Without our community support we would not be the team we are today.”
“Our fans have been really supportive. In the past we’ve led the nation in attendance; we are lucky to represent them. We have a great amount of kids coming to our games and they look up to you as a role model. Hopefully we can inspire them to play soccer at their highest potential. That is one of my biggest motivations -- to make an impact in our youth,” Cignetti added. “Our fans are used to good soccer and we don’t want to lose them. So every year we have to do better for them to come back.”
With five games left in the season, and a four-point lead over rivals Ventura County Fusion, the Southwest Division is Fresno’s to claim. That doesn’t mean the club is looking past anyone in its pursuit of a fourth division title.
When asked if there was any particular opponent Alcorn wanted to beat, he responded “the next.”