On the western edge of Merced County, somewhere between Highways
5 and 99, there is a dented garage door that marks the beginning of
Adolfo Gregorio’s soccer career.
While some children were raised on manicured, green fields,
Gregorio was introduced to the game differently.
“I grew up in a really small town on a 10-acre
ranch,” said the UCLA senior midfielder. “My brothers
and I would kick around a soccer ball barefoot in the sand, and
we’d use the garage as our goal.”
As Gregorio puts it, soccer is in his blood. His father played
in Portugal before moving to the United States and coached his
three sons through their high school careers.
The Gregorio brothers were instilled with a work ethic that
brought all three from backyard drills to current positions on
Pac-10 rosters. Adolfo’s two younger brothers, Andrew and
David, both play soccer for Fresno State.
“I think it’s very unusual to have three boys
playing Division I soccer at a good level,” said UCLA head
coach Tom Fitzgerald. “I can’t recall any other family
with that kind of success.”
Gregorio credits his father for leading him to where he is
today.
“My dad really pushed me to do my best,” he said.
“In high school, while everyone else was partying, I was
training with an adult team. I guess working hard payed
off.”
That it did. Gregorio left high school as a member of the
Under-17 national team which finished fourth place at the FIFA
World Youth Championships in 1999. A two-time National Soccer
Coaches Association of America All-American, he came to Westwood to
join a Bruin team that had just finished their previous season in a
quadruple overtime loss to Indiana in the College Cup semifinal
match.
Despite sitting out the latter half of his freshman season due
to an ankle injury, Gregorio received All Pac-10 honorable mention
for 2000. In his sophomore season, he was a leading UCLA scorer in
Pac-10 play. As a junior, Gregorio scored two game-winning goals in
the post-season: first, against LMU in the second round, and then,
off a penalty kick in the semifinals against Maryland. He was
recognized for his performance by being named to the All-Tournament
Team and received All Pac-10 selection honors.
This past year, Gregorio also played for the U.S. Under-23 team
in, fittingly, Portugal, where he scored on a penalty kick to send
the team to the championship match.
“Adolfo has a tremendous amount of ability, and I could
see that right off the bat,” Fitzgerald said. “I think
he has the ability to play at the next level.”
Gregorio has his sights set on similar goals. He is working on
his Portuguese in an effort to obtain European citizenship, which
would allow him to play soccer professionally in Europe. He is
still working on improving his game, both on and off the field, to
prepare for his career after UCLA.
“I psych myself out a lot,” Gregorio explained.
“I have such high expectations of myself. I just need to keep
the mental game up. I think I have the talent ““ I’ve
been told that all my life. “
But before worrying about going pro, Gregorio’s efforts
lie with the Bruins and their attempt to repeat the College Cup
Championship.
This Sunday will serve not only as a stepping stone to that
goal, but also as a family reunion for the Gregorio brothers, as
the Bruins play Fresno State on the road.
The men’s soccer program at Fresno State is in a quasi
state of limbo as the school’s athletic department announced
the elimination of the team this past year due to issues related to
Title IX, before re-instating the program in time for this
season’s play.
“With the program’s situation, it’s hard for
them to focus on soccer,” said Adolfo of his brothers.
“I think we’re going to win, but they’ll put in a
good fight. It’ll be a tough game.”
And although the three brothers are very close, the eldest
Gregorio was happy to see Andrew and David play at a different
program.
“My brothers have always kind of lived in my
shadow,” he said. “I always hoped they’d play at
the next level, but I was happy for them to go to another school
and not be “˜Adolfo’s brother’ but “˜Andrew
Gregorio.'”
Andrew, a sophomore forward who sports the same No. 11 jersey as
his older brother, registered 12 shots on goal this past year for
the Bulldogs. David is playing his first year for Fresno State as a
midfielder.
“Andrew’s the thinker, he’s quiet,” said
Adolfo. “But David always has something to say; he’s
the outspoken one.”
It’s clear that although Adolfo is in Los Angeles and
Andrew and David are in Fresno, the eldest Gregorio is very proud
of his two younger brothers.
“They are two of my best friends,” he said.
After spending their entire lives playing soccer together, from
a sand pit to youth league to high school and their local club
team, this spring will be the first time when the trio might have
to part ways for good.
Sunday’s game will be a window of opportunity for the
three Gregorio brothers they don’t see too often these
days.
“The Gregorio brothers, people always say, are always
together,” Adolfo said.
And this Sunday, although the lights on Fresno State’s
field will have to substitute for the open fields of Central
California, for 90 minutes, they will be together.