Men’s soccer’s depth in goal spurs healthy competition

If redshirt junior goalkeeper Earl Edwards is the brick wall anchoring down the defense, the UCLA men’s soccer team has three quality backup goalkeepers behind the wall ready to provide support in case of any damage to the brick and mortar.

After starting 15 games and earning four shutouts last season, Edwards is the unquestioned No. 1goalkeeper for the Bruins despite the competition at the position from sophomore Juan Cervantes, redshirt sophomore Alex Padilla and redshirt sophomore Jake Tenzer.

“I think having four good goalkeepers is good for all of us. We help each other throughout practice and it forces me to bring it 100 percent everyday,” Edwards said. “At any day my spot can be taken, so it just keeps me motivated and makes me work harder every day.”

Although Cervantes has spent most of his UCLA career watching Edwards defend goal, Cervantes has had a taste of the collegiate competition, stepping in nicely when Edwards was hobbled with an injury last season.

“Last year, in two very high–pressure games against Maryland and Virginia, he stepped up in his first collegiate minutes and did a fantastic job,” said coach Jorge Salcedo. “We have all the confidence in the world that if he was called on this year, he’ll step in and do the job for us.”

Cervantes started four games and earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors, with the highlight coming from his first career shutout against Virginia.

Despite knowing that he will most likely not be needed on game days, Cervantes still keeps his mind ready to play, no matter the situation.

“You’ve got to think like a first-string; you can’t think of yourself as a second-string,” Cervantes said. “That’s one of the mentalities I always have and when you get called up, you got to be ready.”

Aside from Cervantes, UCLA also has two other goalkeepers, Padilla and Tenzer, both of whom Salcedo believes can play, given the opportunity.

But for now, and the foreseeable future, Edwards is the starter and tries to stress to the other three that he was in their position just two years ago.

“Guys just have to understand its part of the game and work hard and push through it,” Edwards said. “I’ve been in their shoes, its just kind of a learning opportunity in your career; you’re not always going to be on top.”

Cervantes has taken the lesson to heart, calling Edwards his role model, someone he looks up to and learns from in every practice.

Even with the positional competition, all the goalkeepers remain supportive of one another and push each other, forming a great failsafe in case Edwards comes toppling down in goal.

“He always tells me to push, and that’s always important coming from him,” Cervantes said. “Me and him have each other’s backs, and that’s all that matters.”