Snip: SANTA CRUZ – A young professional soccer player rescued from the ocean off Lighthouse Point has died, according to the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office. Alejandro Lopez, 19, died Monday night at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. The cause of the death was a massive infection. Lopez had been hospitalized since being pulled unconscious from the surf on April 26. http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/...-player-rescued-at-santa-cruz-surf-spot-dies/ He started playing for the Santa Cruz Breakers Academy at 9 and was a star from the start, earning invitations to train with the U.S. Boy’s U14 and U17 National teams as well as several international clubs, including AS Roma. Lopez went on to play at the Academy level for both Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes. https://register-pajaronian.com/art...le-soccer-star-dies-following-diving-accident He was a '98 who got a look under Williams. http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/07/04/13/44/140704-u17-mnt-ntc-38-player-camp And, previously, under Perez: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...ts-for-training-camp-at-the-home-depot-center There is a fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/support-for-alejandro-lopez
NEWS: #Quakes74 to host academy matches at Avaya Stadium as fundraiser for family of Alejandro Lopez: https://t.co/gckQBMiZMu pic.twitter.com/bM2P1V7Rro— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 18, 2017
A bit more: They knew him more as a quiet and small — he never did have much of a growth spurt and stood about 5-foot-6 — kid with a big talent, big dreams, a big smile and an even bigger heart. “Whenever he’d meet someone, he’d easily make the other person feel comfortable,” Olvera said. “That was just him.” He added, “He was just one of those people you really wanted to know.” http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sp...-soccer-player-alejandro-lopez-had-that-magic