UCLA men’s soccer scrimmages against U-23, national team
Freshman left back Chase Gasper and the Bruins had a chance to scrimmage against the U.S. Men’s National Team last Tuesday. Gasper called the experience “a dream come true.” (Hannah Ye/Daily Bruin)
By Matt Joye
Jan. 28, 2015 1:33 a.m.
Coach Jorge Salcedo planned for a light training session two Fridays ago, intending to give his team a breather after a week of high-intensity offseason conditioning.
But one phone call changed the course of UCLA’s practice plans for not only that day, but the following week as well.
“(Salcedo) came up to us and was like, ‘Well guys, I have some interesting news,'” recalled freshman left back Chase Gasper. “‘(I) got a call from U.S. Soccer, and they want to set up a scrimmage.'”
Gasper said he and his teammates were ecstatic upon hearing the news that they’d be going head-to-head with the U.S. Men’s National Team that represented the country in the World Cup last year.
What Gasper and his teammates may not have been elated about, however, was how the newly scheduled game would affect the agenda of their upcoming practice.
No longer would it be a so-called “light” day on the practice field. With UCLA’s scrimmage against the USMNT scheduled for Jan. 20, the Bruins had little time to rest. To prepare for a sudden test against the nation’s best, Salcedo sent his players into wind sprints.
“It wasn’t that bad of a running, because you got to prepare for the national team,” Gasper said. “It was a hard session but it definitely helped us.”
Four days later, the Bruins were on the pitch at StubHub Center in Carson, set to face off against not only the USMNT, but also the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team that is projected to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The U-23 team was UCLA’s first opponent of the day. Just like at practice on the preceding Friday, the Bruins came out sprinting.
“It was pretty intense, like we got after it,” said sophomore defender Nathan Smith, who was playing in his first game since breaking his leg at Washington on Oct. 23. “From the kickoff, we had a goal-scoring opportunity, so it was kind of like we got the respect right off the bat.”
Both Smith and Gasper said that the game was a back-and-forth affair, a closely-contested match throughout. The U-23 team would eventually prevail 2-0 over UCLA, but Gasper said that the Bruins’ loss was not due to lack of effort.
“We played our hearts out,” Gasper said. “I could say we actually gave them a game … they beat us 2-0 but it’s not like they dominated.”
After a hard-fought 60-minute scrimmage with the U-23 team, Gasper said the Bruins had only about 10 minutes of rest before facing a rested, fresh U.S. Men’s National Team.
Playing against the likes of Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Jermaine Jones and others, Gasper said the exhibition match wasn’t as closely contested as the first, but still an honor to be a part of.
“Everyone was awestruck as we’re looking at the players that we look up to,” Gasper said. “It was a surreal feeling … awesome, a dream come true.”
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.
