The UCLA men’s soccer team may have lost six starting
seniors last year and may be composed of eight first-year players,
but this group of incoming freshmen is anything but inexperienced.
Through participation in the U.S. Under-18 and Under-20 national
teams, freshmen Kamani Hill, Mike Zaher and Greg Folk have traveled
the world playing the sport they love. These three freshman join
the eight other Bruins who have played for various national teams.
“It’s the closest I’ve ever been to a
professional atmosphere,” Hill said. “It’s an
experience you can’t get from anywhere else. I learned what
it takes to play at the professional level.” “The
experiences you get are amazing,” Folk said. “And they
carry on throughout your career.” The list of countries that
these Bruins have traveled to reads like an atlas. This year, along
with traveling throughout the U.S., Folk attended tournaments in
Argentina and France with the U-18 team. Meanwhile, Hill spent the
summer competing in tournaments in Northern Ireland and South Korea
with the U-20 team. The pressure that these freshmen might have
endured this season has decreased considerably because of the
experience they have already gained. The few fans who attended
UCLA’s game last Sunday against Washington at Drake Stadium
pale in comparison to 35,000 rowdy fans that Hill played in front
of in South Korea. “It’s 35,000 people who aren’t
quiet like they are in the States,” Hill said. “35,000
people screaming and chanting the whole time, rooting for their
country. It was against us, so it wasn’t the most
inspirational chanting, but it’s exciting.” Hill could
sense the intense atmosphere before the game even started.
“You’re in the locker room and you hear feet stomping
and you’re just shaking,” Hill said. “You get on
the field and you kind of just stop and you’re like,
“˜Am I really doing this right now?’ It’s a
surreal experience.” The experience the young Bruins gained
representing their country has been put to immediate use. All three
players have received significant playing time thus far this
season. “They come in with a certain amount of confidence and
a certain amount of desire that they can perform at this
level,” coach Jorge Salcedo said. But Salcedo was quick to
caution that playing for a national team does not mean that a
player is guaranteed special treatment once he arrives at UCLA. He
is more concerned with effort and results than with previous
accolades. The young Bruins understand their coach’s
priorities and realize that they have to come to practice ready to
prove themselves every day. “International play is faster,
[but] college soccer is harder work, and hard tackling and just
gritting stuff out,” Zaher said. “We’re all
fighting for playing time.”
INJURY REPORT: Senior defender Aaron Lopez did
not practice yesterday. He strained his back during last
Sunday’s game but hopes to return to practice today.
EASY WEEKEND: The Bruins will take a break from
Pac-10 play this weekend to participate in the annual alumni game
on Saturday at Drake Stadium. They will resume Pac-10 play the
following weekend when they face off against California and
Stanford. The Cardinal, ranked No. 7 , is the highest-ranked team
in the Pac-10.