In a state of shock, Sal Zizzo hung up the phone and proceeded
to change his plane ticket to get him from Germany to Dallas.
In the midst of playing for a regional team at a tournament in
Germany, Zizzo was informed that he was selected to be a member of
the Under-18 U.S. National Team and was asked to play in a
tournament in Texas.
“I thought I was going to go home, but then I found out I
was going to Dallas,” the freshman recalled. “It was
kind of like a shock, like, “˜Oh man!’ “
The then-college-bound Zizzo accompanied his team on a voyage to
the European continent, a place he has come to love for its
soccer-loving atmosphere. The team played one tournament in
Portugal and another in Ireland, where Zizzo’s team captured
the Milk Cup over the host team, Northern Ireland.
“That was a really big experience, and it was in front of
12,000 fans,” the first-team All-CIF recipient said.
Prior to the championship game, the national team competed
against Brazil, with the match ending at one goal apiece, a game
that is one of Zizzo’s fondest.
“Playing against Brazil, no one really thought we had a
chance,” said the midfielder-turned-forward. “Everyone
belittles the U.S. in soccer.We ended up getting a tie out of it,
but it was probably the hardest game I’ve ever played in my
life,” Zizzo added.
The journey with the Under-18 squad only made him more eager to
strive for his dream.
“My ultimate goal for soccer is to make it to the
professional level,” he said. “I’d like to go
overseas ““ soccer is bigger over there.”
The determined high school All-American also hopes to play
soccer in a World Cup game for the U.S., even though he may still
be eligible to play for the Italian team since he has dual
citizenship.
“If I had to pick between playing World Cup for Italy or
the U.S., I’d choose the U.S. for sure,” Zizzo
said.
The exposure to rowdy crowds, which Zizzo began to enjoy playing
in front of, and such competitive play while on the European
continent has helped the newcomer quickly adapt to the change of
pace that he has witnessed thus far.
When Zizzo was added to the Bruins’ roster this year, they
expected phenomenal results, but nobody was completely sure when
they would witness them.
Much to their surprise and happiness, when the San Diego native
suited up as a starter against second-ranked Maryland, the Bruins
received one of the best offensive performances they’ve seen
this season from Zizzo, who had one goal and two assists in the
game.
“The Maryland game probably sticks out more than any other
game so far this year,” Zizzo said.
Not only did he take notice of his efforts in the routing of
Maryland, so did Pac-10 Men’s Soccer Commissioner Tom Hansen,
awarding the outstanding effort of Zizzo by recognizing him as the
Pac-10 Player of the Week.
However, the road to Zizzo’s success was by no means a
smooth one, as he has looked to various teammates, as well as coach
Jorge Salcedo, for support while entering his ongoing tenure in
Westwood.
“We’re like a family,” the freshman said of
his teammates and coaching staff.
Zizzo and second-year defender Marvell Wynne were teammates on
the same club team, Hotspurs USA, which won the Cal-South State
Championship, and established a friendship that has remained
unchanged in almost every manner except for strength.
“It’s not too different,” Wynne said.
“And I think we’re closer now than we were on the club
team together.”
Wynne can relate to the expectations Zizzo must live up to, as
he, like his freshman teammate, was named first-team All-CIF as
well as an NSCAA/Adidas All-American in high school before coming
to play for the Bruins.
“If he has any questions,” the sophomore defender
said, “I kind of help him out and tell him to relax and just
do his thing, and he has adapted pretty well.”
Wynne hopes to be the mentor for Zizzo that Wynne was lacking at
the start of last year when he was a freshman.
“I wish I had someone to go to that I was close to so that
I could ask questions, so I guess I’ll be there for
him,” Wynne said.
Zizzo’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by Salcedo
either, as he has not only decided to start the freshman, but has
also moved him to the forward position for his ability to break
down opposing defenses.
“He is someone that we look to to break down defenses game
in and game out, something that is extremely valuable about
Sal,” the Salcedo.
Salcedo, however, admits that he wasn’t sure when Zizzo
would step up to the level which he has, but he kept his fingers
crossed that it would happen quickly, knowing that much of the
team’s competition this year would occur in the beginning of
the season.
“What I was expecting was for him to come in and
contribute sooner rather than later, but he’s someone who has
become an important player on this team,” he added.
Even more stunning for the coach and his staff was the pace with
which the prodigy seized his new role on an already-talented Bruin
squad.
“Sal has surpassed some of our expectations and has gotten
himself into a position where he has become one of our
starters,” Salcedo said.
The most difficult part of Zizzo’s transition from high
school to college has ended, as he has successfully become an asset
in the Bruins’ offense, and a contributor on one of the most
dominant soccer teams in the nation.
“I’m sure in the high school level he could dribble
for days and days and days,” Wynne said. “Here he
dribbles, and he dribbles very well. But he knows when to pass and
let the ball go, make runs, and not necessarily be the star player,
but a part of a team of star players.”