The scenery will not change much for men’s soccer’s Kiel McClung next season, but the faces around the locker room will. Instead of seeing fellow collegiate players and UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo, he’ll see fellow MLS rookie David Beckham.
McClung, senior defender and co-captain of the men’s soccer team, was taken by the Los Angeles Galaxy with the 44th pick in the MLS Supplemental Draft (fourth round) last Thursday. The Palmdale native joins the English star, who plans on coming to America after his final season with Real Madrid is complete.
“It’s pretty surreal,” McClung said. “He’s played for both (Manchester United and Real Madrid). He’s played for 10 years at the highest level, and I’m excited to get to know the guy on and off the field.”
McClung started 23 games for the Bruins in his final college season and helped UCLA to a College Cup appearance, where the Bruins made it to the championship match before falling 2-1 to UC Santa Barbara.
In past years, McClung has been a part of some of the more prolific UCLA defenses to date. In 2003, the Bruins set a school record with a 0.52 goals against average and recorded the second-highest number of shutouts in school history with 14.
McClung has not signed a contract with the Galaxy, but instead will show up to preseason camp ““ which is similar to tryouts, McClung noted.
The senior still plans on graduating from UCLA in the spring.
VANOLE DIES: Former Bruin goalie and assistant coach David Vanole died on Jan. 15 while on vacation in Utah. He was 43. Vanole was a member of NCAA Championship teams in both 1985 (as a player) and 1997 (as an assistant coach). He is survived by his wife, Kerry Tatlock, who played at UCLA from 1981 to 1985.
While playing, Vanole was a big playmaker for the Bruins, making six saves in their 1-0 eight-overtime win in the title game against American University.
He then went on to play for the U.S. National team in both the Olympics and the World Cup.
Once his playing days were over, Vanole turned to coaching, putting in time for both men’s and women’s soccer at UCLA as an assistant coach and goalkeeper’s coach; the U.S. Women’s National Team as a goalkeeper’s coach; and the MLS.
Vanole made an impact on everyone with whom he came into contact.
“Dave was a people’s person and will be remembered more for his big laugh, his smile and his constant sense of humor,” said UCLA men’s coach Jorge Salcedo. “The entire Bruin family, and especially the men’s soccer program, will miss him dearly. He was a great player, a great coach and an even better friend.”
Funeral services were held in New York this past Sunday, and a second memorial service will be held at the Manhattan Beach Community Church (303 South Peck Ave.) at 1 p.m. Instead of flowers, Vanole’s family asked for donations to be made to a charity of the donor’s choice in his name.
SOPHOMORES START: UCLA sophomores Sal Zizzo and Tony Beltran both started for the U-20 U.S. National team when it took on Guatemala in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday. The two teams tied, with Beltran and the U.S. defense not allowing a single shot on goal the entire match. The start was the second in a row for Zizzo.
The U.S. qualified for the World Cup the next night following Haiti’s 2-0 upset over Guatemala, but still overtook Panama 5-0 and ended as the winner of Group A.
The U.S. moves on to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, to be held in Canada this summer.
ELLIS GOES NATIONAL: UCLA women’s soccer coach Jill Ellis added another feather to her cap last week, when she was named as coach of the U-20 U.S. National team. The new coaching position will not affect her coaching status at UCLA.
Ellis and the national team will be attempting to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in 2008 in Chile.
Since she has been at the helm for the Bruins, Ellis has enjoyed great success, taking her team to a total of five Final Fours, including one this past season.
People surrounding the national team are excited about Ellis being named as the coach.
“Jill Ellis will do a great job in leading our U-20 team into the next World Championship,” U.S. women’s national team coach Greg Ryan said. “Her knowledge of the player pool, coaching, and player management skills make her perfectly suited to take on this position with U.S. Soccer.”