Talking with the stars

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Senior Steven Williams reaches under the tag as he steals home plate for the Sharks against Oak Park. Williams was 2 for 3 on the night, including two home runs.

The Malibu Times will be publishing a series on the stars of the Malibu High School sports teams who will be returning next season. The first piece is on soccer player Justin Saul.

By Sam Rubinroit / Special to The Malibu Times

Sophomore Justin Saul helped the Malibu High School boys soccer team this season advance to the quarterfinals in the playoffs. Led by league Coach of the Year Dan Metcalfe, the Sharks had an outstanding year. They finished with an 8-0 record in league play and won the division championship with help from four players named to the first team all-league team and three named to the second team, as well as three others earning honorable mention.

In his second year of varsity play, Saul earned the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

When did you first start playing soccer? When I was about five I think I started playing AYSO. But since I started walking. I would be kicking a ball around the house. It was something that I needed to do all the time. It would drive my family crazy. As I got older it is even worse because I can’t study for a test without kicking the ball around. When I am sitting at my desk in school I do get the urge to kick the ball around. For some reason when I am at home I study better with a ball at my feet. I went to Pepperdine soccer camp every summer. I was able to play with kids from the Pepperdine soccer team and with the coaches at Pepperdine. It was a lot of fun. I also went to some Pepperdine soccer games. I would dream of playing soccer on that big field.

What is the most exciting part of the game? I love to score goals. Once I score one, I always want more. I also love to set up plays for my teammates so they have a chance to score goals and feel that great feeling. I really like making the perfect pass.

How do you celebrate after a big win? I am just happy to have the win. I love to beat teams that are ranked higher than us. I also love to play against players who are better then I am because it makes me play better.

How do you feel after a loss? After a loss I am frustrated. Soccer is a team sport and everybody needs to play together. That does not always happen.

Who’s your favorite professional soccer player? Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Manchester United. He is a midfielder who passes and scores a lot. He has amazing footwork, and I watch him on TV all the time and try to copy what he does on the field. I could watch him for hours.

What is the most important skill to master for soccer? I think the most important skill to master for me has been my deadly footwork. I owe that to watching soccer on TV, especially Ronaldo. But I think it all depends on the position that you are playing during the game; it is what you need to master. Everybody needs to play together.

How do you prepare yourself for a game? When I prepare myself for a game I drink lots of water so I do not get dehydrated, and I try to focus on the warm up and prepare myself on the way to the game. I find out who it is we are going to play and find out as much as I can about the team and who their best players are.

How do you balance schoolwork and practice? School is very important in order for me to play college soccer. Soccer gives me the incentive I need in order to do well in school. But I have to say that I look forward to the practices after school. It helps me to relieve the stress of the day. I love playing soccer. It makes me feel good about myself

Do you have any hopes of playing in college? If so, where? I am hoping to play in college. My dream is to play for a Division 1 school anywhere in the United States. I guess I also have another dream to be discovered and play for a team in Europe. My dreams keep me trying harder when I play, and I know that I need to do well in school in order to play in college.

What career do you see yourself in? I would like to be a pro soccer player. I am also interested in becoming a sports agent, working for a sports radio station or TV, or just working anywhere in the sports field. I am really good at memorizing statistics and remembering everything about players in all sports. I am a sports fanatic. This comes from years of hanging out with my dad and Grandpa Harvey.

You’ve won the MVP for your league as only a sophomore. Where is there need for improvement in your game? I need to grow and put on some more pounds. I think I need improvement on the mental part of the game. There is always room to grow in this sport, and I don’t think I will ever stop learning something new from those people I play with.

Your coach Dan Metcalfe won the coach of the year award. What do you think of his coaching style? Dan was a great help to my improvement in my game. He gave me a lot of self-confidence and he worked with everybody on the team. He taught us all how to work together and support each other. He wasn’t only concerned about the win, but he was concerned about all the players on the team. He would always tell us how important school was, and that we needed to do well in school because the team depended on us. He would explain what he wanted me to do, and also let me know what I was doing wrong. He was an amazing coach and I liked to play for him. I was able to look up to Dan, knowing that he coached club soccer and he really understood the game.

Milton Alvarado won the Most Valuable Defensive Player Award, and three other players made the first team. How much support did you have throughout the season from your teammates? I had great support from all my teammates. I would not have gotten half of my goals or assists if it weren’t for them. The success I had this year was because of my team. Milton Alvarado won the most valuable defensive player award and he was the support for the whole backfield. He will be missed next year. But it was the whole team that won, not just me.

With such a young group consisting of Munny, Doug, Josh, and Cully, what do you expect for next season? I love playing for Malibu High, but my goal this year is to play for the U.S. Soccer Development academy. This is a league that plays all year round. If you play in this league, you cannot play high school soccer. It is against league rules. It is higher than premier league, and colleges really get to see you play. I love playing high school soccer because I get to play with my friends, especially Cully Smoller who I have been playing with for a long time, but I know that in order to be competitive and maybe get a chance to play soccer in college that this is what I need to do.

I think the Malibu High soccer team may move up a division because we won league again this year, so the teams Malibu High will play are more competitive. We have lost many players who are now seniors, but we do have many younger players coming up who are really good and will take their place. We also have many strong players from last year, some of which play for club soccer teams. It will be a hard year with a young team in a new league, but with a coach like Dan, the team will be strong with or without me next year. Dan is incredible, and we are lucky to have him at Malibu High. It would be great next year to have more of Malibu High students coming out and cheering on the team, and I love when people come out.

What advice would you give to younger players just beginning the game? Practice, practice, and practice more. Watch lots of soccer on T.V. so you can understand the game and you will better understand what the coach has to tell you about your game. If your parents tell you to turn off the T.V., turn the soccer back on when they leave the room… You have to start young to keep up with all of the other great players… You have to be strong mentally because you will have to play in wind, rain, snow, cold, and maybe in the heat. But you always have to try your best and never give up. I have had coaches that have been very tough on me but I understand that they are trying to get me to the next level. Don’t ever quit. Just play harder.