UIC soccer gets taste of pro life
Three former Flames play for Fire in annual event
Chris Burrows
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
Media Credit: Bethany TreasureChicago Fire teammates, including former UIC All-American Baggio Husidic, huddle before Tuesday's charity friendly against UIC.
Dressed in Chicago Fire red, three former UIC soccer phenoms returned to Flames Field last Tuesday for the third annual charity friendly pitting UIC against its pro counterparts. For the first time, UIC alums completed the Fire's roster and stamped out the burgeoning UIC men's soccer team 3-0 on the chilly pre-season night.
Baggio Husidic, a First Team All-American for UIC in 2008, garnered plenty of cheers as he took the field against his former team for the entire 90 minutes. He was joined in the second half by 2007 Horizon League Championship MVP Cesar Zambrano and former backline veteran Pat McMahon who entered as substitutions.
Zambrano, a 2008 Colorado Rapids draft pick, and McMahon, who started every game UIC has played over the past four years, have recently been practicing with the MLS side in hopes of sparking a professional opportunity.
"It was unbelievable to see three UIC guys in Fire jerseys," said UIC head coach John Trask. "I think all three of those guys would tell you one of the reasons that they've hopefully been able to assimilate to that level is because of this game. They've been given the opportunity to see the speed of play, how quick Justin Mapp is, and how hard someone tackles from the Fire."
The 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft for the Fire, Husidic's homecoming was a show of the emerging men's soccer program at UIC, and he spoke of the focus of professional level play.
"It was kind of weird, three guys from UIC playing for the same team. It felt like home a little bit," said Husidic. "In college you see top level players. In the pros every single guy is
at the top level. Practices, training, the whole mentality is all different. It's your job, your life is just to play."
"You go to college 4 to 5 years and there are a lot of disturbances, homework, school, partying that sort of stuff. Here it's just soccer and that's it," said Husidic.
But Husidic and the Fire's starters didn't back down out of the gates with the unique stylings of Mexican National team legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco and speedy mid Justin Mapp pounding the Flames' backline.
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Baggio Husidic, a First Team All-American for UIC in 2008, garnered plenty of cheers as he took the field against his former team for the entire 90 minutes. He was joined in the second half by 2007 Horizon League Championship MVP Cesar Zambrano and former backline veteran Pat McMahon who entered as substitutions.
Zambrano, a 2008 Colorado Rapids draft pick, and McMahon, who started every game UIC has played over the past four years, have recently been practicing with the MLS side in hopes of sparking a professional opportunity.
"It was unbelievable to see three UIC guys in Fire jerseys," said UIC head coach John Trask. "I think all three of those guys would tell you one of the reasons that they've hopefully been able to assimilate to that level is because of this game. They've been given the opportunity to see the speed of play, how quick Justin Mapp is, and how hard someone tackles from the Fire."
The 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft for the Fire, Husidic's homecoming was a show of the emerging men's soccer program at UIC, and he spoke of the focus of professional level play.
"It was kind of weird, three guys from UIC playing for the same team. It felt like home a little bit," said Husidic. "In college you see top level players. In the pros every single guy is
at the top level. Practices, training, the whole mentality is all different. It's your job, your life is just to play."
"You go to college 4 to 5 years and there are a lot of disturbances, homework, school, partying that sort of stuff. Here it's just soccer and that's it," said Husidic.
But Husidic and the Fire's starters didn't back down out of the gates with the unique stylings of Mexican National team legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco and speedy mid Justin Mapp pounding the Flames' backline.
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