Ryan Futagaki

Fountain Valley midfielder Ryan Futagaki, who earlier gave an oral commitment to Southern Methodist, said Sunday he will attend UCLA on a soccer scholarship. Futagaki, rated as one of the top 22 boys' soccer recruits in the nation by USA Today, said he wanted to stay close to home. "I did it mostly for my dad," said Futagaki, a first team Times all-county selection last year. "He's disabled and this way, he'd be able to see every single one of my games.

Fountain Valley soccer forward Cliff McKinley, who broke the school's single season and career goal-scoring records this season, has committed to UCLA. McKinley, who has 21 goals this season and 55 over his four-year career, joins former Fountain Valley teammate Ryan Futagaki at UCLA. "I always wanted to go to UCLA," McKinley, a member of the under-18 state Olympic Development Program, said Monday. "It was a matter of them wanting me."

Fountain Valley soccer forward Cliff McKinley, who broke the school's single season and career goal-scoring records this season, has committed to UCLA. McKinley, who has 21 goals this season and 55 over his four-year career, joins former Fountain Valley teammate Ryan Futagaki at UCLA. "I always wanted to go to UCLA," McKinley, a member of the under-18 state Olympic Development Program, said Monday. "It was a matter of them wanting me."

Amid the noise of the fans, players and coaches at UCLA men's soccer games, it's silence that drives Ryan Futagaki. Futagaki's biggest fan is his father. But unlike his teammates, Futagaki can't hear his father's cheers. He can only imagine what his father would be telling him. Arnold Futagaki has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease. The condition was diagnosed in 1995, two years after symptoms first appeared. He is unable to speak or use his legs or left arm.

Amid the noise of the fans, players and coaches at UCLA men's soccer games, it's silence that drives Ryan Futagaki. Futagaki's biggest fan is his father. But unlike his teammates, Futagaki can't hear his father's cheers. He can only imagine what his father would be telling him. Arnold Futagaki has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease. The condition was diagnosed in 1995, two years after symptoms first appeared. He is unable to speak or use his legs or left arm.

Fountain Valley soccer Coach Kevin Smith remembers this little guy running around on his sidelines saying, "One day, I'm going to play for you coach." Smith said he always answered, "I don't know if I'm going to be around that long." Fast forward five years. Smith is still the coach and that little guy, Ryan Futagaki, is the star of his team. Futagaki, all of 5 feet 5, 135 pounds, hasn't grown much in size, but he has become awfully large in stature.

In the Professional Developmental League: Orange County Blue Star 2, Central Coast 1--Tom Poltl and Ryan Futagaki each scored at San Luis Obispo as the Blue Star improved its record to 6-3. The Blue Star defeated the San Gabriel Valley Highlanders, 2-1, on Friday night.

The Blue Star defeated the Stanislaus United Cruisers, 3-1, at Santa Ana Stadium in a Premier Development League men's soccer game. Ryan Futagaki and Sean Lockhart scored goals to give the Blue Star a 2-1 halftime lead. The Blue Star scored the only second-half goal in the 76th minute, when Tom Poltl dribbled past several defenders and blasted a shot into the far side of the net. The Blue Star improved to 4-3.

* Esperanza at Fountain Valley, 3 Friday: The winner claims the Sunset League's top playoff spot. Tenth-ranked Esperanza (6-3) beat Fountain Valley (7-2) last month and would hold the tiebreaker if it can sweep the Barons. No. 5 Fountain Valley will be without its top player, midfielder Ryan Futagaki, who is in Florida training with the under-20 national team. * Huntington Beach at Los Alamitos, 3 Friday: If Huntington Beach (5-3-1) wins or ties, the Oilers would secure the third playoff spot.

The No. 3-ranked UCLA men's soccer team broke a halftime tie with three goals in the first 15:14 of the second half to romp past No. 12 San Diego, 4-1, before 1,551 at the North Athletic Field in the first round of the NCAA tournament. McKinley Tennyson Jr., who missed on three chances in close in the first half, took a pass from midfielder Shaun Tsakiris in the 48th minute and beat goalie Justin Neerhof of San Diego (14-4). Tennyson also scored in the 61st minute.

Fountain Valley midfielder Ryan Futagaki, who earlier gave an oral commitment to Southern Methodist, said Sunday he will attend UCLA on a soccer scholarship. Futagaki, rated as one of the top 22 boys' soccer recruits in the nation by USA Today, said he wanted to stay close to home. "I did it mostly for my dad," said Futagaki, a first team Times all-county selection last year. "He's disabled and this way, he'd be able to see every single one of my games.

Fountain Valley soccer Coach Kevin Smith remembers this little guy running around on his sidelines saying, "One day, I'm going to play for you coach." Smith said he always answered, "I don't know if I'm going to be around that long." Fast forward five years. Smith is still the coach and that little guy, Ryan Futagaki, is the star of his team. Futagaki, all of 5 feet 5, 135 pounds, hasn't grown much in size, but he has become awfully large in stature.

Fountain Valley earned its second trip to the Division I boys' soccer finals in three years with a 2-1 victory over visiting Redlands. The Barons will play Simi Valley Royal, which beat Fountain Valley in the 1995 Division I final. "I can't believe it," Fountain Valley Coach Kevin Smith said. "I wanted a shot at Royal because they beat us before."

Coach: Kevin Smith (fifth year). 1994-95: 22-4, 9-1 in the Sunset League; lost to Simi Valley Royal, 5-4, in the Southern Section Division I finals. Key returners: Joey Bove, sweeper, first team All-League as a midfielder, Sr.; Ryan Futagaki, midfielder, first team all-league, So.; Keith Hedenberg, forward, Sr.; Nick Puglisi, defender, broken foot may keep him out of nonleague games, Sr.; Adam Novak, forward, Jr.; Nick Tolman, midfielder, So.; Joey Vazquez, forward, Sr.