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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Yet another double OT draw......... Cal Holds San Diego State to 1-1 Tie in 2 OTs Casiple Scores First Goal of His College Career for the Bears http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/110611aaa.html
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
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
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.
Toronto FC man and former Cal goalkeeper Stefan Frei is training with Liverpool: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/11/toronto-goalkeeper-frei-training-epls-liverpool With Josh Saunders locking up the starting spot for the Champion Galaxy, Cal is becoming Goalkeeper U
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
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
Stars Announce 3 New Signings Before Opening Weekend 2012 APRIL 3 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/...w-signings-before-opening-weekend/#more-32267
Cal Men's Soccer Announces 2012 Schedule Bears to Play 10 Home Games and Face Four 2011 NCAA Tournament Teams 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