For the third consecutive year, the UCLA men’s soccer team sits atop the Pac-10 preseason polls.
And for yet another year, the Bruins find themselves ranked in the top 10 in the national preseason polls, this time at No. 7.
But this year will also be markedly different.
After former Bruin coach Tom Fitzgerald (2002-03) brought home an NCAA championship in his first year in 2002, leading the Bruins to an undefeated conference record and an overall record of 20-2-1, mimicking that success won’t be easy for first-year head coach Jorge Salcedo.
“We would be kidding ourselves if we think a decent record would be good enough,” Salcedo said. “My mentality is to keep the program strong and make it the best it has ever been.”
If the Bruins’ exhibition game last Saturday at UCLA’s Drake Stadium against San Diego State was any indication, Salcedo has his work cut out for him, despite the fact his Bruins scored a 4-1 victory over the Aztecs.
“For an exhibition we had some good moments, we had some bad ones, it’s to be expected,” Salcedo said. “Our speed of play wasn’t as fast, or where it needed to be, but it’s what these exhibitions are for. We’re very fortunate to have this game to get some of the funk and bad habits out against a college team before the regular season.”
Even though it was his first official game as the Bruin coach, Salcedo was far from having first-game-day jitters. Instead, he was stricken with anxiety.
His demeanor relatively unknown to most fans, Salcedo combines a cool exterior with a fiery personality, offering words of encouragement while simultaneously barking out instructions to his players.
“I expect my team to act like me,” Salcedo said. “Expect a lot of hard work, expect an honest effort, and a lot of dedication. We’re going to make an effort to be successful and that’s what I expect out of this team.”
Unlike regulation matches, the exhibition game comprised of three quarters – one 45-minute quarter and two 30-minute quarters.
Although the drawn-out game tested the players’ endurance, the team was not complaining, as many of the players were attempting to leave lasting impressions on the coaching staff to secure a starting position come the regular season.
All three goalies – redshirt sophomore Eric Reed, junior Nate Pena and freshman Eric Connor – played in the game. The starting goalie position remains the most highly contested spot on the team, and Salcedo will make his decision on the goaltending issue this Thursday, before the season opener.
Until then, Reed has been doing all he can while the starting position remains up in the air.
“Everything I have goes on the field every single day I’m out there,” said Reed, who got the start Saturday. “Nate, Eric and I are very, very competitive, so any chance we get to go into the game is highly valued. Nothing is secure for anyone; there’s so much competition on the field between all positions.”
Showing the summer rustiness, neither team was able muster many shots on goal, but the UCLA midfielders broke the offensive drought just before the end of the first period. Junior Ryan Valdez headed the ball in front of the Aztec goal, allowing senior Mike Enfield to slip between a pair of Aztec defenders, setting up a right-footer that scurried past San Diego States’ Tally Hall to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Though dormant for most of the game, UCLA’s offense was ignited in the final period when Mike Zaher, Evan Corey and Benny Feilhaber each connected on a goal, giving the Bruins a commanding four-goal advantage. The Aztecs did avoid being shut out, capitalizing on a Bruin mistake in the 104th minute for a goal.
On showcase during the exhibition at Drake was UCLA’s incoming freshmen class, widely considered the No. 1 class nationwide. Highlighted is Soccer America’s top recruit, forward Kamani Hill, and No. 21 recruit Zaher.
Most fans in attendance kept their eye on Hill, as his boisterous attitude and zeal were apparent on every Bruin possession.
“I play with all my emotion,” Hill said. “I know that I sometimes should be calmer, but when it’s appropriate, I think it does help the team.”
For the Bruins, that same emotion will be needed as they open their regular season on Friday, Sept. 3 when they face off against 2003 NCAA participant Oakland at the Cal State Fullerton Classic in Titan Stadium.
There, the anxious Salcedo will see whether his Bruins will respond when it counts.
“Physically we’re fine; mentally and emotionally we could’ve been better,” Salcedo said. “We didn’t come out with as much passion and enthusiasm as I would like. In a game like this, guys were tentative, but next week there are no more excuses.”