Yorba Linda’s Dan Kennedy made what I believe was his sixth consecutive start in goal for Chivas USA Sunday and it was an eventful one – he faced two penalty kicks, saving the first, but not the second, which proved the game winner.
Soccer beat writer Phil Collin caught up with Kennedy after the game at Carson’s Home Depot Center for a brief chat:
Q: You played for UC Santa Barbara at the 2004 College Cup final in this stadium and you were subbed out for penalty kicks. Did you flash back to that today?
A: When they took me out? No, it’s funny, that sticks in your mind. That’s more of an after-the-game type of deal. During the game you’re not thinking of that kind of stuff. I think I’m capable of making PK saves just as good as any other keeper. I like my chances. So it was good to get my first one saved. I wish I would have saved the second one and we would have had a point out of the game.
Q: Do you know how Preki intends to handle the goalkeeping position during the playoffs? Will you be in the net or is he waiting for regular starter Zach Thornton to get healthy?
A: No idea. I’m just trying to do as well as I can for the good of the team.
Q: What has the last month or so meant to you in your development?
A: As any keeper in any situation, it’s very important to be comfortable with your team and with your defenders. That’s how you can better yourself and manipulate your results by understanding their play and talking to them and putting them in the right positions and building trust and confidence. And you can see that over time we’re beginning to play together, so it’s helping.
That’s a file photo of Kennedy, BTW, not one from this weekend’s game.
In other Chivas USA news:
*The reserves (4-3-3) beat their Colorado Rapids (4-5-2) counterparts 2-1 Sunday in their third consecutive win. Midfielder Keith Savage and forward Anthony Hamilton scored the second half goals.
The reserves play 4 p.m. Tuesday against the San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Field 6 at the HDC. Admission is free.
*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (4-1) picked up a fourth straight win with a 5-2 victory over Nomads SC. Orr Baroush scored twice, Andy Lopez had a bicycle kick go in, while Jesse Paredes and Polo Morales added goals. The Kids’ win moved them into first place in the SoCal Division of the U.S. Development Academy’s Western Conference.
(The Galaxy Under-18 team beat the San Diego Surf 4-2 Saturday at the HDC, BTW to move to 2-3 on the season; they’re third in the nine-team division.)
*The Chivas Under-16’s (2-2-1) lost 4-2 to the Nomads Saturday; they’re in second place in their division with a 2-2-1 record (W-L-T), behind the 4-1 Galaxy. The Galaxy lost 4-0 to the San Diego Surf at the HDC. Standings.
Sunday College Scores
UCLA men 3 (5-4-5) Oregon State 0 (4-7-3) (The Bruins received first-half goals from Michael Stephens and Prince Lapnet, and Palos Verdes Estates’ Kyle Nakazawa added a goal in the second half from a 22-yard free kick).
Conference standings.
Arizona State 1 (7-4-3) USC 0 (12-2-1) (USC suffered its first loss of the season on a 17th minute goal).
Arizona 0 UCLA 2 (13-0-2) (Junior forward Lauren Cheney scored both Bruin goals giving her a team leading nine goals and five assists. It was the Bruins’ 13th shutout in 15 matches; they outshot Arizona 13-4).
Conference standings.
San Francisco men 1 (4-7-1) Loyola Marymount 0 (4-4-5) (Leon Williams scored the game’s only goal in the 50th minute).
Conference standings.
Gonzaga women 1 (5-9-2) Loyola Marymount 2 (7-5-3) (Junior Kristen Garcia scored her first career goal 2:12 into the second overtime period for the LMU winner).
Portland 2 (13-1) Pepperdine 1 (6-8-2) (The game-winner came in the 88th minute from a penalty kick).
Conference standings.
Cal State Northridge 2 (7-7-1) Pacific 1 (8-6-1) (Freshman midfielder Nancy Avesyan scored in the 88th minute to give the Matadors the win and was named Big West
Co-Player of the Week. She leads the team with four goals and three assists).
Conference standings.
