The tables were turned last Saturday at the men’s soccer
team’s annual alumni game at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.
Instead of barking out commands from the sideline, first-year
men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo joined fellow alumni on the
field for an afternoon scrimmage. While Salcedo and assistants such
as Jose Lopez were playing, current members of the team enjoyed the
chance to watch and poke fun at their coaches. “They enjoy
watching all of their coaches play,” said Salcedo, who played
at UCLA from 1990-93. “I’m sure that one day they hope
to come back and play in an alumni game as well.”
“I’m going to have to give him some pointers after the
game,” freshman forward Ryan Munoz joked. Although there were
not enough players to field two teams, the problem was solved by
using sophomore forward Chad Barrett as a goalie. After
Barrett’s performance, Salcedo quipped that he would possibly
use him as a back-up during the season. “Maybe if all three
of (our goalies) get hurt, we’ll put Chad in goal,”
Salcedo laughed. With no referees or official timekeeping, the game
largely progressed into a scrimmage, with the players more intent
on having a good time than keeping track of the score. At a time
when UCLA continues to try to find their niche after a mediocre
first half of the season, Salcedo still managed to have fun during
the Bruins’ off-week. “Every year, this is a tough time
during the season to have an alumni game, but it worked out
nicely,” Salcedo said. “It’s just a nice day for
all of us to get together and reminisce.” On hand during the
match were alumni from each of UCLA’s four national
championship teams. Also in attendance was Juan Engelsen, a member
of the 1967 team. Engelsen, who was wearing his original uniform,
played for UCLA in the first year the Bruins fielded a men’s
soccer team. “(The uniform) is such a relic to look at the
style and what he had on his jersey,” Salcedo said. “It
was really neat to see. It’s little things like that that
make it a special day.”
INJURY REPORT: Freshman forward Munoz suffered
an injury at practice Friday after being kicked in the back of his
calf. Munoz, who had X-rays taken yesterday, is currently on
crutches and is out for an indefinite period of time. Meanwhile,
senior defender Aaron Lopez resumed practice with the team after
sitting out Wednesday’s practice. Lopez strained a muscle in
his back during last week’s game against Washington.
HALL OF FAME: This weekend, Sigi Schmid, a
former men’s soccer coach and player, became the fifth soccer
player inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. He amassed a
322-63-33 record during his 19 years as head coach. Along with
leading his team to 16 consecutive post-season appearances, Schmid
led the Bruins to three national championships, in 1985, 1990 and
1997. In 1984, Schmid was awarded Coach of the Year honors by
Soccer America.