Even though we didn't win NC's with either coach, just goes to show that DG can't keep any good coaches...
Congratulations to this season's Pac-12 Player and Coach of the Year: Kelyn Rowe (player); Jorge Salcedo (coach). Good luck in the playoffs and bring home the NCAA College Cup.
Former UCLA Soccer star Val Henderson is writing a blog for goal.com as she plays this season with the Philadelphia Independence of the WPS
Not sure why this hasn't been posted yet since our loyal readers usually sniff out any articles about Bruins within minutes of their publishing. Nevertheless, ESPN had this article yesterday about David Vanole, the goalie who led us to an NCAA Championship in 1985 and how he saved USA Soccer with his esophagus of all things. Its a really great read. Enjoy
I've done a few player profiles for the SB Nation main site in advance of the World Cup and when the chance to profile Carlos Bocanegra came up, I jumped at it. Here's the player profile on Boca, the US captain and former UCLA player.
Today, United States soccer coach Bob Bradley named the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 World Cup, which starts for the US on June 12. Three Bruins were named to the roster, Carlos Bocanegra (captain), Jonathan Bornstein and Benny Feilhaber. Those three will all participate in national team training camp and all three are expected to be named to the final 23-man roster on June 1. Congrats to all three for earning the chance to compete in the world's biggest sporting event.
Midfielder Amobi Okugo, from Sacramento, was named to the 2009 Parade All-America team. Also a member of the 2008 Parade All-America team, Okugo has played with the USA U-17, U-18 and U-20 national teams and has been in the US Soccer residency program in Bradenton, FL. He is the top player in a recruiting class ranked #3 in the nation.
He plays the game fearlessly, stretching and laying out his body to make big stops. Laying out players -- from Brazil to Japan -- who get in his way. And Edwards is only going to get bigger: He's projected to grow to be 6-5. "More than his presence, is the personality and leadership Earl brings to the team," U.S. U-17 coach Wilmer Cabrera says. "He is a great player, a great athlete, but his leadership is what puts him on another level. Earl reads the game very well and communicates well. It's clear, on the field, he's a leader. That's why he's one of the top players at this age in the country, no doubt about it."