MAYS LANDING — The Atlantic Cape Community College Buccaneers men’s soccer program enters the 2025 season with its largest recruiting class of student-athletes as optimism surrounds a squad that will feature 18 newcomers on the roster.
Head coach Luiz Paz (right), who is entering his fourth season overseeing the rebuilding of this program, and new assistant coach, Chase Spencer are impressed by the early camaraderie that this Buccaneers team is exhibiting.
“We are playing a pretty young roster this year with 60% being freshman and first-year players. One of the strengths that I see us carrying into this season, in my opinion, is that the players are really clicking off the field,” said Paz. “They are staying late after practice, hitting the gym after training and grabbing lunch together is showing that they are developing a bond between themselves early in the season.”
Last season saw the Buccaneers make important strides as the program continued its climb back to respectability in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Despite finishing with a 1-12 record, the Buccaneers, with a roster full of student-athletes playing soccer for the first time, battled game-in and game-out, and came away with an impressive 2-0 shutout victory over the County College of Morris.
Paz is enthused by the quality of this year’s incoming student-athletes, several of whom have previous Division III experience, including center/midfielder Matthew Sanchez at Rosemont University, and many who aspire to move on to a four-year college or university after Atlantic Cape.
Highlighting the list of returning sophomores is leading goal scorer forward Julio Torres (left), who finished last season with five goals and brings a quick, shifty and energetic game to the field. Defender Carlvin Altidor (below) will once again be the heart of the Buccaneers defense. Altidor played every minute last season with passion. Between the pipes, goalkeeper Albert Colon, who started every game last season as a first-year student-athlete, will bring his experience to the position.
Paz has one simple goal for his Buccaneers squad this season.
“Our goal is to make a statement throughout the league that Atlantic Cape is here to compete. I feel that a lot of teams this season will see us on their schedule and believe that it will be an easy game. But, most teams are going to be in for a surprise when they see the quality of the players on our roster.”
To achieve this mark will require a complete team effort, but there are two players in particular whom Paz believes could play key and surprising roles in the team’s success.
“I believe midfielder Yellian Mercedes will be a key piece. He comes with a ton of experience playing with the Cedar Stars Academy. He is very versatile and he can play any position on the field,” said Paz. “Yellian is very coachable and he wants to play at the next level. He chose Atlantic Cape in hopes a developing and learning so he can take his experience and play at any New Jersey Athletic Conference school.”
“I believe this year’s surprise could be freshman forward Pedro Bautista. He comes from Atlantic City and hasn’t really played club soccer at the highest level, but he has the ability to turn heads with his runs, movement and aggressiveness towards the goal.”
The Buccaneers men’s soccer team opens the 2025 season on Tuesday, August 26 at Middlesex County College at 4 p.m. Visit atlanticcape.edu/menssoccer for schedule, results, and student-athlete and coaches bios.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May County campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
