For the past four years the MSU men’s soccer team has dominated on the field, earning the honor of being the LSC champions. Head coach Michael Meachum has led the team for the past seven seasons leading them to five total conference titles. The Mustangs are known for being included in the LSC tournament. This season marked the Mustangs ninth straight appearance in the tournament. Coach Meachum says that when a trophy is involved the team is going to compete and make sure they win. The past few seasons have proven that statement.

“Anytime there is a trophy on the line, we always try to win it,” Coach Meachum said.

The competitiveness of the team has proven to be the key to maintaining the success from the teams in previous years. Coach Meachum says having players who all have one common goal is a key component in the success the team has seen so far.

“The biggest thing is probably just having competitive, like-minded people. I think you come to school here, especially for men’s soccer to win trophies and to compete for national championships,” Coach Meachum said.

Business senior Juan Galindo said one of the biggest strengths is the culture that the players bring to the team.

“Having a cultured program, ever since I was a freshman, the culture is to win. You noticed the first practice that everyone wanted to win, and that just translates onto the games and eventually the trophies,” Galindo said.

While the team has a one-track mindset of competing for the titles that come with winning trophies, the success on the field translates from the chemistry the players have off the field as well. 

“For them to be as competitive as they are when their backs are against the wall, I think that’s what has helped them the most,” Coach Meachum said. 

Galindo said that the bond most of the team created over the years of playing summer ball has helped with the team chemistry.

“I mean a lot of us know each other from playing summer ball, or we’ve been here a couple of years together, so we hang out all the time, and adding new faces that are easy to get along just makes it better both on and off the field,” Galindo said

Most coaches would make the players train everyday in preparation for an upcoming game, but not Coach Meachum.

“I’d rather give them days off then us not be able to compete at training,” Meachum said.

The Mustangs have seen great success over the past few years, but each year the team builds off of the previous years.

Coach Meachum has a team that is balanced with veteran players and younger players who bring a mixture of experience and new ideas to the team, making the players not as scared to play when the competition gets tough. 

“Having a good balance of returning and veteran-type players that have been doing this for a long time. It’s been a good balance and they have gelled really well together,” Coach Meachum said. “I would say it’s probably having a lot of experience, but like having some youth and being a little bit naive at times, not knowing what to be scared of has been really beneficial.”

With the younger players Coach Meachum mentioned, The Mustangs were able to set other milestones for this season. 

“Getting to play five freshmen is really cool. We haven’t done that in five years, since this group of seniors were freshmen,” he said. 

Coach Meachum has also reached 100 wins faster than any of the previous coaches.

The season has been full of many memorable moments, but for Coach Meachum, it is getting to see his players mature and grow.

“Seeing them grow up as like kids to now being responsible and graduating… These guys have been around for so long and they’ve put so much into the program and they’ve been in so many national tournaments… to be able to come back and continue to do that every year, and grow as young men through it. I think that’s been the most rewarding,” Coach Meachum said.

Galindo had similar sentiments, being a senior himself, and being able to look back on the success he has been a part of through the years. 

“I’ve been with spectacular teams, like last year where we only lost one game the whole season, and like 22’ [2022 season] where we ended 6th in the conference. So being around the highs and lows means a lot, but now as a senior and winning this trophy means even more because you always want to end in a high note,” Galindo said.

The Mustangs are coming off a high of winning the LSC championship, but the job is not done yet. The Mustangs will play the winner of the Cal Poly Pomona vs. Westmont game on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Stang Park starting at 3 p.m. for the second round of the NCAA playoffs. 

Coach Meachum’s plan for the post-season is to take it day by day. 

“Just prepare every day for the next day and be better that day after that.”