Submitted photos – Ethan Gyenis in action for Mendocino College this year.

By Ray Hamill — A pair of former Arcata Tigers enjoyed impressive debut collegiate seasons on the soccer field this fall.

Playing for Mendocino College, 2022 H-DNL boys MVP Ethan Gyenis had an immediate impact with the Eagles and set a new school record with 17 goals.

After his record-setting season, Gyenis was named the Bay Valley Conference Forward of the Year.

Mendocino head coach Felipe Chavez said he saw a lot to like about the former Arcata standout when he first joined the team and his game continued to improve over the course of the season.

“He’s very technical and he’s very clean on the ball,” the coach said. “And he can finish quite well, and he can dribble around people.

“I like how he can link up in tight spaces and he has a rocket of a foot.”

Gyenis wasn’t the only only Arcata Tiger to immediately impress at the next level.

Teammate Josiah Gomez also earned all-conference honors after his first college season with the Eagles and was named to the All-Bay Valley second team.

Gomez, who also was a standout basketball player in high school, quickly settled in at Mendo, earning a starting spot as a central defender.

“He’s very competitive,” Chavez said. “Aside from his athletic attributes, Josiah’s a very competitive kid and he picked up on things very quickly. 

“He’s very smart and he has a very high soccer IQ. He’s almost like a sponge.”

The two 2023 Arcata graduates helped lead the Eagles to a fourth-place finish in the seven-team conference.

The Eagles finished 6-5-1 in the BVC and 8-10-1 overall.

After coming in with a lot of potential, Gyenis grew in stature as the season progressed.

Josiah Gomez

“We saw a lot of athleticism, a lot of power in him,” Chavez said. “We saw his ability. He’s very imposing. He has a big frame, he’s fast and physically dominating. We also knew there were areas in his game we could help him improve.”

Gyenis responded to the challenge.

“He learned how to use his teammates to benefit him and he learned how to pick and choose when he could rely on his teammates,” the coach added. “That’s when the big switch happened.”

Gomez, meanwhile, quickly established himself as a key part of the Eagles defense, earning a starting spot in preseason.

“His ability just to buy in was a big thing,” Chavez said. “And he’s such a good kid and a great ball winner.

“He learned to read the game a lot better. He learned to read the game with the ball at his feet.”

Ethan Gyenis

This year was also a learning experience for a young Eagles roster that featured mostly freshmen and numbered close to 30.

“It was okay,” Chavez said of the season. “We set high expectations, and the boys set high expectations.

“We couldn’t figure out to win the close games that would have put us up in first or second.”

With most of these players expected back next year — including Gyenis and Gomez — the second-year head coach is optimistic about the Eagles’ prospects moving forward.

“They should be back next year, so we’re really excited about that,” he said. “We could have 20 to 25 returning players with college experience, and high level players too.”