For the third consecutive year, the UCLA men’s soccer team
sits atop the Pac-10 preseason polls.
And for yet another year, the Bruins find themselves ranked in
the top 10 in the national preseason polls, this time at No. 7.
But this year will also be markedly different.
After former Bruin coach Tom Fitzgerald (2002-03) brought home
an NCAA championship in his first year in 2002, leading the Bruins
to an undefeated conference record and an overall record of 20-2-1,
mimicking that success won’t be easy for first-year head
coach Jorge Salcedo.
“We would be kidding ourselves if we think a decent record
would be good enough,” Salcedo said. “My mentality is
to keep the program strong and make it the best it has ever
been.”
If the Bruins’ exhibition game last Saturday at
UCLA’s Drake Stadium against San Diego State was any
indication, Salcedo has his work cut out for him, despite the fact
his Bruins scored a 4-1 victory over the Aztecs.
“For an exhibition we had some good moments, we had some
bad ones, it’s to be expected,” Salcedo said.
“Our speed of play wasn’t as fast, or where it needed
to be, but it’s what these exhibitions are for. We’re
very fortunate to have this game to get some of the funk and bad
habits out against a college team before the regular
season.”
Even though it was his first official game as the Bruin coach,
Salcedo was far from having first-game-day jitters. Instead, he was
stricken with anxiety.
His demeanor relatively unknown to most fans, Salcedo combines a
cool exterior with a fiery personality, offering words of
encouragement while simultaneously barking out instructions to his
players.
“I expect my team to act like me,” Salcedo said.
“Expect a lot of hard work, expect an honest effort, and a
lot of dedication. We’re going to make an effort to be
successful and that’s what I expect out of this
team.”
Unlike regulation matches, the exhibition game comprised of
three quarters ““ one 45-minute quarter and two 30-minute
quarters.
Although the drawn-out game tested the players’ endurance,
the team was not complaining, as many of the players were
attempting to leave lasting impressions on the coaching staff to
secure a starting position come the regular season.
All three goalies ““ redshirt sophomore Eric Reed, junior
Nate Pena and freshman Eric Connor ““ played in the game. The
starting goalie position remains the most highly contested spot on
the team, and Salcedo will make his decision on the goaltending
issue this Thursday, before the season opener.
Until then, Reed has been doing all he can while the starting
position remains up in the air.
“Everything I have goes on the field every single day
I’m out there,” said Reed, who got the start Saturday.
“Nate, Eric and I are very, very competitive, so any chance
we get to go into the game is highly valued. Nothing is secure for
anyone; there’s so much competition on the field between all
positions.”
Showing the summer rustiness, neither team was able muster many
shots on goal, but the UCLA midfielders broke the offensive drought
just before the end of the first period. Junior Ryan Valdez headed
the ball in front of the Aztec goal, allowing senior Mike Enfield
to slip between a pair of Aztec defenders, setting up a
right-footer that scurried past San Diego States’ Tally Hall
to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Though dormant for most of the game, UCLA’s offense was
ignited in the final period when Mike Zaher, Evan Corey and Benny
Feilhaber each connected on a goal, giving the Bruins a commanding
four-goal advantage. The Aztecs did avoid being shut out,
capitalizing on a Bruin mistake in the 104th minute for a goal.
On showcase during the exhibition at Drake was UCLA’s
incoming freshmen class, widely considered the No. 1 class
nationwide. Highlighted is Soccer America’s top recruit,
forward Kamani Hill, and No. 21 recruit Zaher.
Most fans in attendance kept their eye on Hill, as his
boisterous attitude and zeal were apparent on every Bruin
possession.
“I play with all my emotion,” Hill said. “I
know that I sometimes should be calmer, but when it’s
appropriate, I think it does help the team.”
For the Bruins, that same emotion will be needed as they open
their regular season on Friday, Sept. 3 when they face off against
2003 NCAA participant Oakland at the Cal State Fullerton Classic in
Titan Stadium.
There, the anxious Salcedo will see whether his Bruins will
respond when it counts.
“Physically we’re fine; mentally and emotionally we
could’ve been better,” Salcedo said. “We
didn’t come out with as much passion and enthusiasm as I
would like. In a game like this, guys were tentative, but next week
there are no more excuses.”