Last month, the Bruins got $5 million towards their new 3,000 seat soccer stadium with construction slated to commence this fall. Wonder if this'll help in their recruiting.
UCLA made the switch from Adidas to Under Armour for $280 million, the largest college deal ever starting in 2017. Have misgivings about the UA soccer uniforms, though. To me, Notre Dame always looked better in Adidas.
Are they refurbishing the current stadium, or building a new one at a different location? The current facility is not an enjoyable venue to watch soccer. Stadiums with tracks around them put the fans too far from the action. Also, I think their current locker rooms for soccer are less than par, and the restrooms take a hike to get to. Glad they're investing in the sport.
The soccer stadium site will be the North Athletic Field, where the Bruins now practice, traditionally play their preseason scrimmages and was their home field before relocating to the awful behemoth known as the Drake track stadium.
The Bruins have another recruit headed to Westwood for their 2016 class. Maki Umehara from Japan. She is an extremely skilled center midfielder/forward. With 8 freshmen and 1 transfer all with international experience this will be a truly amazing recruiting class that will do some big things. Don't be surprised if they end up winning the Pac 12 this year.
Seems weird they are even going to play the season with a team this good in the Pac 12. Congratulations to the Bruins on their upcoming titles.
Not a hater at all. I have always admired the great athletes and the good soccer played by UCLA. Here is to hoping that your daughter has her mothers dignity and class. Good luck on your season.
I said it months ago and I'll say it again. Mal Pugh will never play a game for UCLA. She is gonna play in the Olympics, win a gold medal and go pro. Her endorsement deals after the Olympics are gonna make college an afterthought. She will sign a national team contract in January and probably be pissed she didn't do it when she had the chance earlier this year
If she does sign a contract, she'll be better off doing it after a successful Olympics stint rather than just after the NWSL draft.
Does Pugh receive compensation for playing in the Olympics? If so, wouldn't she lose her NCAA eligibility?
No. She passes on more than 100k if they win gold and the money for the victory tour if she chooses to stay an amateur. This, IMO, will not happen In fact, I wouldn't be all to surprised if she goes pro next week so she can get paid for the Olympics. Not saying it will happen, but I wouldn't be surprised
And on top of that would be the money that the Thorns have offered her to play. Plus I am sure Nike is waiting to sign her up.
Reminds me of when unc thought we had Lindsey Horan coming in....except that Pugh is much better. Truly that once a generation player
It's funny how many people on these boards that poo pooed Pugh and I seem to remember several that think Deyna Castellanos is a better player! Unfortunately most have no clue. Pugh is still going to UCLA. She won't be going pro or signing some Nike deal. This is the USWNT. They love free labor and although it would be awesome to see a passing of the torch to her this summer the truth is that Rapinoe and Heath will be in the game when it counts. It's a lot easier to defend a bad result with your veterans on the field than it is if you go all in on youth. My bet is that she is a second half sub in most games.
When you say 'sign a national team contract,' you mean sign a contract with the U.S. National Team, which would entitle Pugh to compensation for national team play that she's not currently not eligible to receive? I too think it unlikely that she will play much if at all for UCLA. She ought to make money while she can; you never know when an injury could ruin your career. You can always get a college degree.
It's very upsetting that Pugh won't be in a ucla uniform this fall. I don't know why she's even considering joining the under 20 team. Being an Olympic gold medalist (most likely) should be enough, and the under 20 team don't really need her services to win. Jessie Flemming will be in Westwood after her time with the Canadian national team, you think Pugh would do the same. Sad for the Bruins, as I had them in the College Cup Finals with her. Doubt they make it without her now.
You're nu -- <karch>we appreciate your (thoughful pause) enthusiasm.</karch> Even with Pugh, I think USA's backline is going to get whooped and torched by Japan or Spain, if we even get that far. I give us a fighting chance to advance from Group C (FRA, NZL, GHA) in 2nd place, but 3rd is way more likely than 1st. France might just whoop us, too, being 2016 UEFA-19 Champion (over Spain, who probably should have won). We're not all that at U-20. Japan won 2014 WWC-17, then those players whooped us 3-0 at 2015 NTC, and 5-0 this May in the PNG warm-up mini-tourney. Those were against our 1st-choice backline, before some cycle-long starters made the choice to not-redshirt, so we can't possibly be stronger now. Pugh is with the U-20s because it's quixotic. Every kid dreams of being Leia Skywalker flying down the trench.