Ka-Ching! Hawai‘i Striker Scores Big
May 30, 2003
In an amazing six-week stretch, Brian Ching has reached the top of the United States soccer ladder. The Honolulu kid who still loves to surf made his debut with Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in April of this year. His size, (6′1″, 195 pounds) strength and scoring ability at forward brought him to the attention of U.S. coach Bruce Arena, and Ching was chosen for this week’s friendly against Wales.
The first Hawaiian-born MLS player was glad for the chance to represent. “It’s an honor and a privilege. I’ve worked hard to get to this point,” he said.
Ching has slowly but surely plotted a course for soccer success. Encouraged by his mom, who was his first coach, he became an outstanding player at Honolulu’s Kamehameha High School. A move to the mainland resulted in a stellar college career at Washington State’s Gonzaga University, where he was twice named to the All-WCC squad. Gonzaga won the WCC title twice during Ching’s time there, and he stands second on their all-time scoring list with 34 goals and 23 assists — this despite missing the entire 1998 season after knee surgery.
During his college career Ching got his first shot at the U.S. soccer ranks with the Spokane Shadow of the U.S. Premier Development League (USPDL). Mirroring his Gonzaga success, Ching received the USPDL’s Rookie of the Year Award in 1997. Greater success lay ahead in the Evergreen State, but first Ching made a side trip to Southern California.
The Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS drafted Ching in the 2001 MLS Superdraft, and he played in eight games, notching a goal and an assist. But on a star-studded team that went on to the league final that season, he was unable to maintain a spot on the roster, and watched from the bench as the Galaxy lost to his future team, the San Jose Earthquakes, in the MLS Cup Final.
Ching moved down a rung in the soccer stratosphere to the A-League’s Seattle Sounders, but the chance at regular playing time in the Emerald City proved beneficial to both Ching and his new team. In a breakout 2002 season, he scored 16 goals (second in the league) and was named to the league’s “Team of the Week” four times. At season’s end, it surprised no one that he made the All-League team.
Ching’s poise in front of the goal pricked up ears around U.S. soccer, particularly in a U.S. Cup match against MLS champions San Jose. Ching scored a goal in the overtime thriller, and Earthquakes’ coach Frank Yallop was taking mental notes. This season, Ching was selected in the Supplemental Draft by San Jose for a second shot at MLS.
“I watched Brian several times last year and was always impressed,” Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said. “He always gives 100 percent. He is a good target man and he should add some power to our attack.”
Yallop’s words are proving prophetic. Helped by his partnership with U.S. soccer’s brightest star, Landon Donovan, Ching stood second in the league in goals after three matches. In his Earthquakes debut against Colorado, he scored a goal in the very first minute of play. Two weeks later, against New England, his hulking presence forced Revolution defender Carlos Llamosa to head the ball into his own net, and in the second half, Ching got his own head on a Brian Mullan cross for the second, decisive goal.
He’s continued his successful pairing with Donovan, smashing a wonderful one-time effort in an electric 4-3 victory over Columbus last week.
“Landon’s a phenomenal player,” said Ching. “He’s got a great soccer brain, and I try to take some of the pressure off him by being more physical up front.” It’s working — after six dates, the Earthquakes are MLS’ sole unbeaten team, returning to their 2001 Cup-winning form, and Ching leads the team with three goals.
Now that he’s reached the U.S. soccer’s top league for the second time, he’s been noticed at even higher levels. Thus, he was chosen for his first ‘cap’ (national team selection) this past Monday, in front of his new hometown crowd at San Jose’s Spartan Stadium. He received a rousing ovation when entering the game in the 75th minute — quite a birthday celebration for the striker, who turned 25 the day before the Wales match.
Were they watching back home in Hawai‘i? “My mom rallied the troops for this one,” he said of the nationally televised match.
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