So far, the newcomers to the UCLA men’s soccer team seem
to know what they are doing.
“The legitimizing factor for the freshmen is that they can
all play,” UCLA head coach Tom Fitzgerald said. “For
the older guys it creates immediate chemistry, and bonding is
immediate. As long as they can play, they’re accepted in the
group.”
Ranked by Soccer America as the nation’s No. 1 recruiting
class, the eight new freshmen on the squad are joined by nine
returning seniors, with fewer spots on the roster filled by
sophomores and juniors.
“We’re trying to bring in the freshmen and hopefully
they’ll watch and learn as they go,” senior forward
Matt Taylor said. “We’re trying to incorporate them
into everything.”
Most visible of the freshmen is Chad Barrett, a forward from
Beaverton, Ore., who has made quite an entrance into the program.
In the team’s first five games, Barrett scored four goals and
tallied seven assists. He had a foot in all five UCLA goals in the
team’s 5-0 thrashing of Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 14.
Barrett was also named to Soccer America’s Team of the
Week and College Soccer News’ Team of the Week for games
played Sept. 8-14. He ranks second in the NCAA in points per game
(3.0).
“The start that I’ve gotten is something that you
fantasize about,” Barrett said. “I’ve just jumped
right into it. It’s only the start of the season, but I hope
it’ll continue.”
Freshman defender Brandon Owens graduated a year early from his
high school in Murrieta, Calif., to join the Bruins. Owens is a
member of the Under-17 residency program and national team.
Slated to start, Owens has been sharing time on defense with
fellow freshman Kiel McClung of Palmdale, Calif.
“Kiel is playing really well and putting pressure on
(Owens), and they’re splitting time because they’re
both so good,” Barrett said.
Freshman Patrick Ianni is also playing for the Bruin defense, as
well as in midfield. Ianni’s brother, Tayt, was a
member of the UCLA NCAA champion team in 1990.
“(Ianni is receiving a) substantial amount of playing time
for a freshman and doing great things with it,” Fitzgerald
said.
Midfielders Taylor Canel, Benny Feilhaber, Trini Gomez, Damon
James and redshirt freshman Mike Gardner comprise a Bruin bench
ready to play.
“Everybody says we’ve got the top recruiting
class,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m not sure how they
can do that without seeing the season. Our guys stack up across the
country well, but the proof is in the pudding ““ you have to
wait, not speculate, but evaluate your performance at the end of
the season.”
If the final evaluation of these freshmen is positive, it is a
distinct possibility that the Bruins could return to Westwood with
another College Cup.