UCSB GAUCHOS 2008 Official Thread

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by GauchoYoungin, Feb 7, 2008.

  1. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    I was waiting for a big announcement to start this thread and this is a pretty big one. UCSB has announced the signing of US Youth National Team members Danny Barrera and Bryan Dominguez. Danny was deciding between us and UCLA...so HA! Bryan was thought to be going Pro so no one really went after him, but word leaked out a little bit and our coaches caught on to it. This is only the beginning. So many more recruits are coming.

    Also, there is a game coming up against the Canadian U-23 National team I believe early March. Also, Chris Pontius, Alfonso Motagalvan, and Memo Jalamo are going to be playing the the Ventura County Fusion. They have a game against Real Salt Lake this Friday, but college players can't play so they will just be on the side line until May.

    This season has starting off on a huge positive note...can't wait to hear more.

    Go Gauchos!!!
     
  2. blomqvist

    blomqvist New Member

    Dec 8, 2005
    Chris Pontius makes me want to party. He makes me want to party right now.

    [​IMG]

    Seriously though, I'm thinking of making the trip for the Wake Forest game. I know it's a great atmosphere and packed, but would there be any specifics to know before heading out there?
     
  3. USAClash

    USAClash Member

    Feb 9, 1999
    Where you coming from?

    Isla Vista is the place to pre-game. It's the college town that virtually all UCSB students live in. Eat/Drink at Woodstocks (Pizza) or Freebirds (Mexican).

    Bring torillas.

    Watch out for tortillas.

    Harder Stadium holds 17000 so getting a ticket at the game is never a problem. Show up early as the ticket line can get pretty long.

    What else would you like to know?
     
  4. Gaucho95

    Gaucho95 Member

    Dec 13, 2004
    Oakland, Ca
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    So far for next year, we have:

    Danny Barrera (offical announcement)
    Bryan Dominguez (official announcement)

    Vincent Alvarez (club announcement)
    Robbie Tulchin (various news articles)
    David Ponce (reliable club source)
    Christian Dahlskog (news article)
    Tim Pontius (news article)
    Rod Fahmian (rumor)
     
  5. blomqvist

    blomqvist New Member

    Dec 8, 2005
    Those are good things to know. I'd be coming from NC so if there are any lodging suggestions that'd be great, but this trip is still in the theoretical stages.

    Thanks a lot.

     
  6. s0ccerguy

    s0ccerguy Member

    Mar 25, 2004
    I look for the UCSB program to fall off the map next season. They've lost too many players in the past years and you can't expect the returning players and the newcomers to produce another good team. They'll probably do well in the conference just because it's so weak but any games against top ranked teams i feel they will struggle with.
     
  7. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    Really? Are you serious right now?

    Granted we lost a big time player in Iro, and then our midfield lost some key players, but we replaced them. My main fear is our backline, but Boxall is going to be the next Iro. He might not be as amazing as him, but he can definitely hold it down. As for mids, well we already replaced them with some big time talent, but if you think that isn't good enough, we have some pretty good mids still with the team (Walker, Pontius, etc). That plus there are still more quality mids coming in. As for upfront, Otti is back and better than ever. He trained really hard in the offseason and will come back strong. Belgium comes and goes, but he played some soccer over break in Europe and got back to his old self (i.e. not so full of himself). That plus a stud coming in will help us and of course Pontius can be up top. Our GK's are really good and there should be some big time competition between them.

    My main thing is how deep our backline will be, but with who we have and some potential transfers we should still be pretty good. Mids are being replaced by quality. Fwds we have and have more coming in.

    And calling the conference weak is BS. The Big West is throwing out some good teams. We finally got two in the NCAA this year. UC Davis has nothing but grass so they will have a good team consistently I feel. Cal Poly is the same way. CSUF has dropped down in these past years, but they have potential and some history there. UCI also has had some quality players there. Of course, CSUN pulls in all those players who play but have no academic talent so they will continue to do well. UCR...well, um they can sometimes be good and surprise some people. I am worried about the new Conference Tourny being held this year b/c I know there is potential that teams can upset one another. I might go on a limb and say the Big West is a stronger conference now than the Pac-10. I am pretty comfortable on that limb too.
     
  8. Gaucho95

    Gaucho95 Member

    Dec 13, 2004
    Oakland, Ca
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    How is the 5th ranked conference "so weak"?

    http://www.soccerratings.com/index.php/NCAA_D1_Men's_Conference_Ratings
     
  9. USAClash

    USAClash Member

    Feb 9, 1999
    I doubt it. People were saying the same thing after 2004. The program has only been getting better. The crowds keep getting bigger, setting attendance records along the way, and better recruits keep coming in....2 U-17 National Team players this year.

    Will the team achieve as much success next year? Maybe not, but no way do they fall off the map.

    and the Big West is not weak! If it was hamstringing us right now by bringing down our level of play, us Gaucho fans would be the first to complain.

    Soccer School USA ain't gonna fall off the map!
     
  10. s0ccerguy

    s0ccerguy Member

    Mar 25, 2004
    I'm judging based on the performance of Big West teams in the NCAA tournament. With the exception of UCSB, no other team is a Final Four contender by any means, although that can be debated with UMASS making it far last season, but I still don't think, IMHO, that the Big West can compare to the WCC, Pac 10, Big Ten, or the ACC.
     
  11. Proud Mama

    Proud Mama New Member

    May 9, 2006
    OC
    Agree. With the recruits they're bringing in, and the outstanding players still in the program, they will definitely do very well next season.
     
  12. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
  13. gauchosean

    gauchosean New Member

    Jun 19, 2007
    Performance against Pac 10/WCC last year had the BW going 6-3-3. One of those losses was a 2OT loss against Cal in the NCAAs. The BW is not the ACC but will hold its own against any other conference.

    Gauchos will win a bunch next year and make a run at the NCAAs, so long as TVS is the coach they will never "fall of the map". Kids want to play in front of the big crowds and the only place they can get that is at UCSB. UCLA and Santa Clara can't compare and for California kids staying in state is huge. All our recruits were highly sought after and several had offers from UCLA as well and turned them down!

    UCSB - Soccer School USA!

    Crowd for a league game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1SNdjmeZB_4&feature=related

    How does your school celebrate a victory: http://youtube.com/watch?v=apyaEs_qtGU
     
  14. keiththecarpenter

    keiththecarpenter New Member

    Jan 14, 2008
    umass was a very good team and they deserved to be in the final four. Nothing lucky about them winning the A-10(just ask st louis, rhode island, charlotte and dayton) than winning against BU, BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC CHAMPS),Central Conn and UIC. Ohio State was a very good team and they deserved to win that game but1 to 0 score is not a blow-out .
     
  15. s0ccerguy

    s0ccerguy Member

    Mar 25, 2004
    Did i say UMASS was a bad team?
     
  16. keiththecarpenter

    keiththecarpenter New Member

    Jan 14, 2008
    No you didn't say they are not a good team. I first thought you were saying hey if umass can make it anyone can (implying they were not a good team) , but you were really saying that regardless of rankings that any of the teams can make it to the final four if they play well even if they are unknown and not expected to go far. Sorry for over reacting..
     
  17. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    The Gauchos take on the U-23 Canadian team on March 7th at 7pm at Harder. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and kids. I can't wait to see this game. Rosenlund might be back for one, and for two it gives us a chance to see those back up guys that we haven't seen a lot of. That and Otti will be back. We will be minus Boxall since he is away on U-23 New Zealand duty, but we should still be pretty solid.
     
  18. twoolley

    twoolley Member+

    Jan 3, 2008
    oh nice, definitely going to that game. It'll be interesting to see how everyone performs for sure.
     
  19. Proud Mama

    Proud Mama New Member

    May 9, 2006
    OC
    Cool article:

    Men's Olympic (U-23) Team
    Wednesday, February 27, 2008
    Tickets on sale to Canada-Gauchos battle in California


    Josh Wagenaar
    Photo: Dale MacMillan
    The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are now selling tickets to their exhibition match with the Canadian men's U-23 team on 7 March. Canada will be in town preparing for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament which opens less than a week later in Carson, CA. Canada's first opponent at the CONCACAF tournament is Mexico on 12 March.

    To get to the Olympics, so UC Santa Barbara have charged, Canada will first "have to pass thru the Gauchos". The 7 March match kicks off at 19.00 at Harder Stadium at UC Santa Barbara. Tickets for adults are $10 U.S. while tickets for children under 13 are just $5.

    Coach Nick Dasovic has until 10 March to name his final 20-player roster. He is not bound to the 30-man list, so he will be able to select any available players born 1985 or later. Dasovic will also be able to make changes after 10 March for medical reasons.

    Canada’s round-robin competition in Carson, CA features México (12 March), Haiti (14 March) and Guatemala (16 March). Should they finish amongst the top-two teams in their group, they will advance to the semi-final on 20 March in Nashville, TN (to be played against a team from the other round-robin group). The semi-final winner will advance to the 23 March final and book their ticket for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
     
  20. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    I am really excited about this game. I also found out that since it is not NCAA regulated, horns and drums and what not are allowed...but I guess smoke bombs still aren't. I also found out that Otti won't be able to play still since I guess him redshirting constitutes him being out for a whole year. That kind of stinks b/c I know he wants to get out there and play, especially against Canada. Now I just have to think of what the lineup will end up being.
     
  21. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
  22. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    So since I am really excited for Friday I had to put together a potential line-up. Thing is a couple people are out: Boxall is with NZ U-23, Curry is out with a knee injury for a few months I would think, CJ might still be out with his broken foot, and Otti/Eubanks are out due to this being a redshirt year for them (Eubanks might be eligible, but I don't think so). So with all of that, this is the lineup we are left with:


    ----------------Ruekner(Minton)-------------------
    Zerah-------Hedevag--------Kaveny-----Williams
    -------------Alfonso------------Kaplan-------------
    Pontius--------------------------------------Walker
    ---------------Memo-------Belgium----------------

    So uh, that is all of our team. Like in there are no subs at all if Eubanks can't play and CJ is hurt. I don't know if TVS has any of the club guys playing with them right now b/c that might help. To be honest it still looks like a good lineup depending upon how the guys we haven't seen play. Any other ideas on this? Any body you think I am missing?

    Oh, and if you go through the roster just remember that Paul Kierstead has left the team to focus on academics and Drew Gleason transfered to UNLV. Another question would be if Proctor gets to play even though he is a senior. Does his eligibility end at the end of the season or the school year?
     
  23. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    So I was kind of right with my lineup minus the fact that Williams and Walker couldn't play b/c of grades. The formation wasn't the same, b/c we had to compensate for 3 guys from the club team playing.

    Oh yea, we did lose 3-2. Canada apparently didn't have ALL their bit timers (a few still with their EPL teams) but neither did we. Their first goal was just all the pressure being in the box and one of their taller guys off the set piece got a head to it. The next two I don't remember too well, but I do know that Ricketts was the cause of one of them with his speed and beating our right back.

    Our 2 goals came from who else, but Pontius. This guy is building his stock that's for sure. The first goal was just a rip after he gathered the ball about 30 yds out, went by a DMid and nailed the shot from about 25 yds out into the right of the net. His second one was a beauty. The Gauchos were pressuring them and off a bad pass the ball found I beleive Belgium who passed it to Pontius who went by his defender and found himself with some room to work about 35 yds out. He noticed the GK was off his line (which he had been all night) and sent a beautiful chip right over him from almost the same spot his first goal came from.

    Overall, we could have had them and being down a few players didn't help. The fact that guys who have barely seen action got in there and played pretty damn well is a great sign that when you fill those roles back up with the talent we have, we are going to have a great year.
     
  24. GauchoYoungin

    GauchoYoungin Member

    Nov 18, 2004
    805
    I guess a rather large Tourny down in Temecula this weekend. The Gauchos are playing on Sunday. I was wondering if anyone knew if some of the recruits are playing for their club teams down there? Also, I am waiting on our transfer announcements (since I know we have a few). Anyone care to enlighten on that subject?

    Also, the last game UCSB played was against Azusa Pacific. We won 2-0 and Minton got the start in goal, but was hardly ever challenged.
     
  25. Gaucho95

    Gaucho95 Member

    Dec 13, 2004
    Oakland, Ca
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany

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