For the UCSB men’s soccer team, the work toward reaching the College Cup officially began Monday a few hundred yards away from the venue where the NCAA men’s soccer final four and championship matches will be played.
UCSB’s Harder Stadium is the site for this year’s national championship and the host Gauchos are hoping they’ll be playing on their home turf Dec. 10 and 12 in front of a full house of screaming fans.
On this first day of practice for the 2010 season, the No. 6-ranked team in the country was scrimmaging while obnoxious pop music was blasting from a cheerleader camp going on next door at Rob Field.
Coach Tim Vom Steeg said he didn’t have too much of a problem with it. In fact, he looked at the bright side of things, saying the noise and distractions would help his players work on their focus.
Focus will be a key factor for the Gauchos this season. Unlike the World Cup, where the host team gets an automatic berth, the host has to earn its way into the College Cup like everybody else
Junior midfielder Luis Silva said the players understand that.
He said the team’s goal is simply to not look ahead and try to win every game.
“We’re focused and I know we can get there,” he said.
“The big speech for us is we understand what the pressure is,” said Vom Steeg of vying to play in the College Cup at home. “Ultimately, what we want is a team that plays for each other, is very supportive of each other, and the energy on the field always has to be positive.”
Vom Steeg said the team can use the College Cup hoopla to its advantage.
“I think we basically have to look at all the outside pressures as a way to internally motivate us. We have to play together before we can win together. That’s the line,” he said.
Vom Steeg has arguably his deepest team in his 12 years at the helm. He had 33 players out for the first day of practice, including nine returning starters.
“What we do know is talent is not the issue,” he said.
Returning goalkeeper Sam Hayden, who set the school record with 16 shutouts last year, was quick to notice the improved talent and the level of competition.
“We’re a lot better than last year intensity-wise,” he said. “UCSB always has a lot of skilled players, but this year everybody’s fighting as hard as they can. There’s never a dull moment.”
Hayden is especially thrilled about the additions of defenders Evan McNeil and Chris Hunter, who were ineligible last season after transferring from Yavapai College in Arizona.
“Oh yeah, I feel safe back there,” he said of the talented newcomers to join senior center back and team captain Michael Boxall on the back line. “We have great chemistry back there.”
“It’s very good,” Boxall said of playing with McNeil and Hunter. “I have confidence in all the guys around me.”
“Chris and Evan allow us to go back and play like we did with (Andy) Iro and (John) Curry,” said Vom Steeg. “It gives us a lot of ability in the back to hold the ball, move the ball around and strike good balls all over the field.
“As great as it is defensively, (the improved back line) allows us to do a lot of things offensively.”
With the defense settled and an experienced group in the midfield, the top item on Vom Steeg’s to-do list in training camp is find the right striker combination. He has returning starter Michael Nonni, but the other spot is a battle between Sam Garza, a sophomore transfer from Denver, freshman David Opoku from Ghana and returner Waid Ibrahim, a junior.
Vom Steeg said he was pleased at how things went on the first day of training.
“It was a very good first day. We like the attitude. Most of the guys have been here the last two or three weeks playing and training on their own, so it showed today with the fact we didn’t have to start at square one,” he said.
The Gauchos will train twice a day for the next four days before they play their annual exhibition game against Westmont on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium.
UCSB will then play Mexico’s Under-20 national team on Aug. 27 before opening the regulars season with road games at Cal State Bakersfield on Sept. 1 and at New Mexico on Sept. 4. Their home opener is Sept. 7 vs. Creighton.
The schedule is demanding with matches against nationally ranked Harvard, UCLA, Duke and UC Irvine.
“It’s going to be fun,” Silva said. “If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”
