Zach Kirby knew his dream of playing Major League Soccer would require hard work and determination.
But the former Boston University back didn’t expect what happened last winter.
One month after being selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy as the ninth pick of the sixth round of last January’s MLS Supplemental Draft, Kirby arrived at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. for the team’s preseason training intent on securing a job. But the wait for his professional debut would be put on hold.
Kirby suffered a knee injury, ending any chance of joining the Galaxy. The 2006 America East Defender of the Year is currently rehabilitating, and according to BU coach Neil Roberts, the defensive stalwart is gearing up for another tryout opportunity with an MLS club in 2008.
Kirby, who notched eight points in 72 career collegiate appearances, would become the fourth BU alumnus to carve out a career in MLS, joining current assistant coach Francis Okaroh (Class of 1987), Mike Emanelo (1990) and New England Revolution star Andy Dorman (2004).
While on the road to recovery, the Georgia native has returned to the university and joined the Terrier coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Led by Kirby, the BU defense produced a banner year last fall, posting eight shutouts and allowing one or fewer goals in 18 of 19 matches. Now, Kirby imparts his wisdom to a unit that has yielded 1.14 goals per game through seven contests.
Dog walkers
Kirby isn’t the only newcomer to Roberts’ staff, as Okaroh and former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay standout Scott Black are in their first seasons as top assistants.
Volunteer assistant Dan Colwell, a 2004 UMass-Amherst alumnus, is in his second year with the program. The Boston native doubles as a personal trainer and coach of the Massachusetts Premier League’s FC Greater Boston Bolts.
Colwell’s prosperous career at UMass featured three Atlantic 10 regular season titles from 2000-2002, and a 15-point senior season earned him a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team.
Okaroh, arguably BU’s greatest soccer product, played in MLS for six seasons from 1996-2002, nabbing both an MLS Cup and Defender of the Year honors in 1999.
Like Colwell, Okaroh has coached the Greater Boston Bolts, who captured the 2005 Under-15 national championship under his tutelage.
The 2006 BU Hall of Fame inductee was a three-time All-American with the Terriers, leading the team to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 1985 and 1986, when BU reached the Elite Eight.
The Nigeria native ranks ninth on the program’s career goal list with 26.
Black joins the Terriers after assistant coaching tenures at Penn State University and Virginia Tech. As a goalkeeping specialist at Penn State, Black’s Nittany Lions made two Sweet Sixteen appearances and one trip to the Elite Eight over five seasons.
On the road again
BU’s prolonged road trip continues this weekend with a non-conference tilt against the UMass. Following Saturday’s match, the Terriers play two more road contests, at Brown University and Binghamton University, before returning to Nickerson Field for an Oct. 10 matchup against the University of Maine.
Starting with the Maine contest, the Terriers will play five of seven games at home during the heart of their America East schedule.
Since a two-game homestand against Boston College and Northeastern University on Labor Day weekend, BU has played just one home match – a 3-2 win over the University of Central Florida last Monday.
The inexperienced Terriers, featuring just two seniors in backs Ian Maio and Derek Puerta, have held their own away from Nickerson, compiling a 2-2-0 record. Both losses came at the hands of nationally recognized opponents in No. 6 Santa Clara University and No. 11 Harvard University.
Kibbles & bits
Sophomore goalkeeper Hrafn Davidsson averaged 5.5 saves per game in last week’s wins over UCF and the University of Rhode Island. … Junior midfielder Neil Hlavaty, who was named America East Player of the Week Monday, also earned a spot on this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. … Junior forward Petur Sigurdsson has scored on all three of his shots on goal this season.