Eric Reed is a man of many passions.
Whether he is helping his team accomplish a feat that had never
before been attained, expanding his knowledge of religions in
class, riding his motorcycle, or listening to country music, the
UCLA men’s soccer starting goalkeeper has made great use of
his time in Westwood, doing the things he loves.
The Mission Viejo native has found himself on a journey that has
seen him grow into more than just the nation’s top collegiate
goalkeeper.
“I have been able to shape myself into more of who I want
to be in the future and to put myself on the right path to know
where I want to go later on,” Reed said.
Like many players who enter the ranks of college soccer, Reed
ultimately dreams of making a career out of the sport beyond the
NCAA level.
But the junior doesn’t plan on pursuing such matters until
he completes his college degree, something most professional-level
players have opted not to do.
“If all goes well, I’d like to be able to play
soccer for a living after school,” Reed said. “As far
as I know, that’s my future plan.”
Reed does not want to simply settle for Major League soccer, but
is realistic about his aspirations.
He understands that there is no guarantee and that the career
could be cut short for any number of reasons, but has a relatively
good idea of what he’d like to do after his soccer career
ends.
“There’s also some thought of being a preacher and a
coach later on in life, but either way, I think soccer is always
going to be a part of my life,” Reed said.
Although becoming a top soccer player and wanting to become a
preacher may appear to be on opposite sides of the occupational
spectrum, Reed has been finding a way to balance his interests for
much of his life, especially since arriving in Westwood as a
Bruin.
Since coming to UCLA, Reed has narrowed the gap between the two
by pursuing a religious studies degree and leading the Bruins to
their fourth consecutive Pac-10 title via an astounding 12 shutouts
this season.
Reed’s sense of curiosity has propelled him to take a deep
interest in not only his own religious beliefs, but also to delve
into the beliefs of others.
“God has always been a presence in my life,” Reed
said, adding that it wasn’t until a few years ago that he
devoted his life back to God.
After seeing the effects of religion on his own life,
Reed’s curiosity led him to see if others had similar
experiences, regardless of their faiths.
“And it’s through that, that I pursue religious
studies: Just the fact that I know religion has shaped my life
completely, and so I want to know how other people in different
religions have been shaped by their religion as well,” he
said.
Reed also credits his beliefs for strengthening him and
assisting him in getting to the point where he has been able to
succeed as a student, a soccer player, and, most importantly, a
person content with the life he has come to lead.
“(My beliefs) have helped in everything from the base
up,” Reed said. “It’s been helpful in achieving
my goals.
“And more than anything,” he continued, “it
has helped me to be able to find happiness in everything that I
do.”
Soccer has also been a contributing factor to Reed’s
happiness, and he has innovated a way to make his two main passions
overlap.
Although he bears tattoos of crosses on his body ““ one
over his heart and one on his left bicep ““ those get
concealed while he is defending the Bruins’ goal.
“I had been trying to think of different ideas of how I
could present my spiritual life on the field,” Reed said.
This year, Reed found the solution to his problem and quickly
took action.
Underneath his long-sleeved jersey, which bears the number two,
Reed sports his own hand-drawn custom design on a plain white
T-shirt.
“I was looking for a different way to express myself
spiritually,” he said.
The goalkeeper illustrated a white T-shirt with symbols that he
felt were important in expressing his faith and the importance it
had in his life.
On the front, Reed inscribed a cross that reads
“INRI” with a crown of thorns on it.
On the back, he paraphrased Romans 16:27 ““ “All the
glory is to God.”
At the end of each game, Reed quickly takes off his jersey to
reveal the shirt, an action he hopes will positively affect his
teammates as they gather together in their post-game huddle.
“(The shirt) symbolizes a couple of things,” Reed
said, “One, it’s just a reminder to me to know exactly
what I’m playing for. I’m not playing for myself.
I’m not playing for a championship. I’m playing for God
first and foremost.
“And above that, as soon as the game’s over, I do my
best to take (my jersey) off so that I hope it can be a light for
others to see that as well, and see that in me.”
The jersey came off even more quickly after all the
Bruins’ home games because none of them ended in Bruin
losses.
The wins were thanks in large part to the saves made by the
Bruins’ starting goalkeeper.
Reed and the rest of the Bruin team did not allow a single goal
at home at Drake Stadium, accomplishing a record that had never
before been achieved by a Pac-10 team.
But Reed, the goalie with the nation’s leading goals
against average of .26, finds time to enjoy more than just his
soccer practices, soccer games, Bible studies and weight
lifting.
When Reed was 16 years old, his older brother began riding
motorcycles. By the age of 18, Reed got his first motorcycle, which
is one of his fondest memories.
“When I got my first motorcycle, I absolutely fell in love
with it,” Reed said.
“It’s another passion in my life that I just love
and have received many, many blessings through it.”
When it comes to music, Reed’s also has individualized
tastes.
“My first love is country, which is kind of weird as far
as my team goes,” he said.
But some of his favorites are still compatible with those of his
teammates.
“I do listen to a little bit of rap, but mostly the older
stuff. I’m a big Tupac fan,” he said.
Regardless of what he may be doing at any given time of any
given day, Reed does it with great optimism and a contagious
smile.