News: California Golden Bears

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by falvo, Sep 15, 2009.

  1. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    These last few years are the first years I've followed NCAA college soccer since pre MLS days in the early 199o's. from what I can see, since Kevin Grimes took over, he has pretty much transformed the program into something special. Having 6 players alone go to the MLS from the 2010 squad, is an accomplishment in itself. I mean the MLS has cut many college All American's in the past. As you said, this is true of every sport. I mean Jamarcus Russell was the Oakland Raiders number one pick in the NFL draft a few years back, signed a guaranteed 30 million dollar contract and is now out of football. The same can be said for Ryan Leaf or in soccer Kenny Arena. Just because you are a star in college doesn't mean you will cut it in the pros.
     
  2. Hararea

    Hararea Member+

    Jan 21, 2005
    Yeah, the thing that stands out to me about Cal's alumni in MLS is how few of them came into college with big reputations. Iirc, the one real big-time prospect was Frei, and of course, he fulfilled his potential very nicely. Grimes' program seems to have identified under-appreciated talents and helped them progress.
     
  3. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Which brings us back to the debate on who goes where for college and why are they going to school in the first place? I mean in the end, you are also or in most cases supposed to be going to school to earn a degree. Isn't that the whole idea of college sports or isn't that the intention? I mean how many players come out of college with pro ball aspirations? Very few. If you get one guy who turns pro, thats already too many.
     
  4. chrome_vapors

    chrome_vapors Member+

    Oct 15, 2010
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    hey falvo, can you tell me anything about how Max Oldham has performed this season?

    The two games I was at this year he didn't play, has he gotten any meaningful minutes at all?

    Any info at all would be appreciated.
     
  5. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I don't know much about him either but I'll try to find out.
     
  6. chrome_vapors

    chrome_vapors Member+

    Oct 15, 2010
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks man I appreciate it.
     
  7. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I asked about Max and from what I gathered, he is a good player in training but he has not been playing. As a Freshman, I'm sure his time will come.


    As for Cal, they lost again to UCLA. Tough luck this season....

    Cal Falls to Pac-12 Champ UCLA, 2-0

    Peach Makes 8 Saves in Loss to Eighth-Ranked Bruins


    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/110411aaa.html

     
  8. midfieldmadness

    Aug 12, 2009
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    I was at the game and Cal is much better than their record indicates. They should be fine next year with all the guys they have returning. I liked what I saw out of the freshman left back Christian Dean.
     
  9. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I think all of the OT's and draws are taking its toll n the younger players. With no seniors on the team, its tough as many players don't have experience. Playing on Friday and Sunday is also not an easy thing for any player. I wish the NCAA would do something about this. I mean to play 20 games in 8-9 weeks is not helping the NCAA college programs or their players. If they spread the season out over 20 weeks it would be a lot better but I doubt the NCAA will do that.

    Bruins clinch title with 2-0 win over Cal


    http://www.socceramerica.com/article/44525/bruins-clinch-title-with-2-0-win-over-cal.html

     
  10. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
  11. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Cal Alumni to Battle for MLS Cup


    Saunders and Jimenez's Galaxy and Carr's Dynamo Will Vie for the Title on Nov. 20


    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/110911aaa.html


     
  12. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Casiple Claims Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Award

    Birnbaum Earns First-Team All-Conference Spot; Salciccia on Second Team


    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/111511aaa.html
     
  13. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    They should be very good next year.
     
  14. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I think so. They had 10 freshman with a sophomore GK. They also lost many games in OT and I'm sure that took its toll on the younger players. I heard Kevin Grimes told his team that they are scheduled to play both Maryland and Virginia next year. Those schools have great programs and it will show what the younger players are made of.
     
  15. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
  16. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Heading down to Santa Maria to watch the game. Hope its a good one!


    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/022912aaa.html

     
  17. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Nice day down in Santa Maria. The Bears were missing a few key starters in Chris Ortega, John Fitzpatrick and Kyle Lunt although they held their own even if they had their hands full. Playing against the U-20 Mexican national team, it seemed they kept defending as the Mexicans seemed to continue coming down the wings in droves. A handball in the box by Kyle Marsh gave Mexico a pk early on and then a breakway down the field from Mexico off a Bears corner kick made it 2-0. Not a bad test though considering they were playing a bunch of professionals , many of whom came from the victorious U-17 World Cup Final win. Cal forward Michael Munoz had one v one with the Mexico GK in the 80th minute but shot hit the crossbar. All in all, it was a good test.


    Cal Drops Friendly to Mexico U-20 MNT, 2-0

    Bears Fall in Spring Match in Santa Maria, Calif.

    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/030412aaa.html
     
    1 person likes this.
  18. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    I was very interested in how this game would go seeing as Mexico has a very talented U-20 squad. Unfortunate that Cal had so many key players missing but the result is about what I expected. Still must have been a great experience for the team, I hope this trend of playing U-20 teams continues.
     
  19. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Talking to some of the players, they weren't really overwhelmed. Then again, Mexico changed 11 players in the 2nd half. Not sure how it would have been if they kept their team together. Cal though can also say they were shorthanded with the missing of some key players. Still Mexico had a lot of "veterans" from the U-17 national team that won the WC a few years back and they are in fact professionals training every day with their clubs as opposed to the majority of Cal's players who have to attend classes on Monday. You would think there would be a world of difference but there wasn't really...
     
  20. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    Thanks for the first hand report. Very true about the difference of a student athlete and a professional training daily against grown men. The fact that Cal started 7 freshman is awesome, great experience for them.
     
  21. Lolonearbyyolo

    Apr 17, 2006
    Section 138
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  22. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    One wonders what the college players could do or what level they would be at if the US Soccer Federation were backing them. I hope somewhere in the future the NCAA starts changing some of their rules and starts letting college players train more with the pros. As it is, the MLS reserve program is IMHO below the NCAA as the top younger (ages 18-20) players still want to go to college. If in fact they end up doing away with the spring program and/or matches and training sessions, it may not be a good thing as a rule and could very well hurt college soccer in the long run.
     
  23. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
  24. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/041312aab.html
     
    Westfan repped this.
  25. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Cal Men's Soccer Announces 2012 Schedule Bears to Play 10 Home Games and Face Four 2011 NCAA Tournament Teams


    [​IMG]
    The Golden Bears return to the Berkeley pitch on Sept. 7 against Central Florida.
    The Bears close the regular season against Stanford on Nov. 9 at Edwards
    http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/050912aaa.html
    .
    2012 California Men's Soccer Schedule
    Fri., Aug. 24 at Santa Clara 7 p.m. Santa Clara, Calif.
    Fri., Aug. 31 at Virginia 7 p.m. Charlottesville, Va.
    Sun., Sept. 2 at Maryland 7 p.m. College Park, Md.
    Fri., Sept. 7 Central Florida 2 p.m. Berkeley
    Tues., Sept. 11 Houston Baptist 2 p.m. Berkeley
    Sun., Sept. 16 San Francisco 2 p.m. Berkeley
    Fri., Sept. 21 Duquesne^ 4 p.m. Berkeley
    Sun., Sept. 23 Loyola Marymount^ 2 p.m. Berkeley
    Fri., Sept. 28 San Diego State* 1:30 p.m. Berkeley
    Sun., Sept. 30 UCLA* 2:30 p.m. Berkeley
    Fri., Oct. 5 Stanford* 7 p.m. Stanford, Calif.
    Fri., Oct. 12 at Washington* 7 p.m. Seattle
    Sun., Oct. 14 at Oregon State* 1 p.m. Corvallis, Ore.
    Fri., Oct. 19 Washington* 1:30 p.m. Berkeley
    Sun., Ore. 21 Oregon State* 2:30 p.m. Berkeley
    Thurs., Nov. 1 at San Diego State* TBA San Diego
    Sat., Nov. 3 at UCLA* 7 p.m. Los Angeles
    Fri., Nov. 9 Stanford* 2 p.m. Berkeley
    [​IMG]
     

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