[OT] '70s Lax and Soccer

[CUlater \'89]

There's a nice article in today's New York Times about US World Cup soccer coach Bruce Arena and his coaching methods, in which he praises Richie Moran and Dan Wood.

Here's the link (free registration required):  http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/29/sports/soccer/29AREN.html

[Al DeFlorio]

Excellent article.  

One of the more interesting tidbits is that Arena, despite being a terrific lacrosse prospect (and subsequently a deserving All-American middie), could not get into Cornell directly out of high school because of his grades, and therefore spent two (national championship) years at Nassau CC proving he could cut it academically.  So much for the usual crap about "if you're a good enough athlete, any Ivy League school will accept you."

[Josh '99]

Wow...  I didn't know Arena went to Cornell.  That's pretty cool.

[CUlater \'89]

Yes, he was class of '73 and is reunited with fellow alum and ex-CU head coach Dave Sarachan '76, who is his assistant on the national team, after serving in that role on DC United.  Much as he does as a coach, I understand that he also worked extremely hard as a player; the hockey players that I've spoken with from the early 70s knew him pretty well, from time spent working out together, and found him to be pretty intense in most matters.

[Erica]

Arena also coached the men's soccer team before going to DC United, did he not?

[Al DeFlorio]

Arena won five national championships at Virginia before going to DC United.  He had been an assistant lacrosse coach at Cornell under Richie Moran before going to UVA to be assistant lacrosse and head soccer coach.  The UVA soccer program was essentially moribund prior to Bruce's arrival.

[Erica]

Here's the link on the Cornell Athletics page.

http://cornellbigred.fansonly.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/053002aaa.html