SWEET ‘N’ SCOUR : John Tronson Takes Revenge on Critics by Sweeping Goals Into Net for CSUN’s High-Ranked Soccer Team

John Tronson stood on the sidelines at North Campus Stadium accepting congratulations from teammates and friends. Cal State Northridge had just beaten UC Santa Barbara in a hard-fought soccer game.

“Sweet revenge,” he said, sweat pouring over his boyish smile.

Sweet, indeed.

Two years ago, the all-Southern Section forward from Crespi High spent three days trying out for the UCSB soccer team. The Gauchos had three returning forwards, however. Tronson’s efforts went unnoticed and he was cut. He sat out the season at home, then registered at CSUN last spring.

Tronson, 21, the leading scorer at Northridge last season, didn’t score Sept. 6 against UCSB. But give him an unofficial assist.

“He drew three players away from the ball,” CSUN assistant coach Jim Stevenson said. The move allowed midfielder Andy Torres to dash 70 yards and score the game’s only goal.

“I was a little disappointed that I didn’t score,” Tronson said after the game. “I was nervous. I had a few chances but just didn’t get it in. But who cares? We beat them and and it was so sweet.

“We play UCSB next year and I’m going to score three goals.”

That sounds like a tall order, but his optimism is not misplaced.

Tronson scored 20 goals in 23 games as a freshman last season. He also had 10 assists, only one behind team captain Mike McAndrew, CSUN’s career assist leader. Those figures helped the Matadors win their first California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship.

In the Matadors’ six games this season, Tronson leads in scoring with six of the team’s 14 goals. If he continues to play at that pace, he has a chance to be named the CCAA Most Valuable Player for the second straight year.

Tronson is not without his doubters, however.

“He doesn’t have the greatest skills,” said Dave Linenberger, assistant coach at San Francisco State. “I don’t think he’s one of those dynamic types that stand out. He’s really slow turning the ball. It takes him three or four steps to face the goal.”

OK, so finesse isn’t his forte. And his style of play looks more like Howie Long’s than Pele’s. Yet the 6-4, 204-pound forward did, slowly, score twice in CSUN’s 2-0 victory over San Francisco State at Cal Poly Pomona’s Labor Day tournament.

“I’m supposed to act slow,” Tronson said last week from his Canoga Park home. “I don’t know if that coach (Linenberger) remembers or not, but a defender was chasing me. I stopped and let the guy run right by me. When he did, I turned and put it in.”

The Matadors’ offense depends on Tronson getting the ball. Even if it means getting it once a game.

“(CSUN Coach) Marwan Ass’ad wants me to hide,” Tronson said. “The greatest attack for our offense is having me move slowly down the field and trying to hide.

“I should only touch the ball once--when it goes in the net.”

That strategy had to be learned.

“Although it’s hard to find a flaw in John, nobody is perfect,” Stevenson said. “We had to work very hard to try and develop his attitude as a team player. That’s the case with most high school hotshots who go into a college program.”

Said Tronson: “I used to play like I had to do everything on the field. I thought I had to set up the offense, lead the defense and score. On this team--we have so much talent--I’d be a fool to try and do that.

“I’m not a great dribbler but I can shoot. Our other center forward, Frank Cubillos, can dribble by you all day. Everybody has their own job. We’re all role players.”

Tronson is also a roll player. He never played football, but he pursues the ball with the tenacity of a skinny cat chasing a fat mouse. He has been accused of throwing his considerable weight around.

“A lot of coaches sit on the sidelines and think that I’m out there trying to thump their guys,” he said. “But, that’s just the way I play. I go out there and just tap a guy on the butt and try to get the ball.

“I don’t play dirty. I’ve never thrown a cheap shot in my life. I play physical because that’s the way Coach Ass’ad taught me to play.

“Those coaches who think I’m a thug don’t know as much as Coach Ass’ad. If they did, they’d be 4-0 with no goals-against.”

Notes

The Matadors (5-1-0), ranked fifth in NCAA Division II and first in the Far West Region, beat unranked San Diego State, 3-2, Friday at Nevada Las Vegas. The two Aztec goals in the first round of the Rebel Soccer Classic marked the first time this season that the Matadors have been scored against. The Matadors weren’t so lucky against UNLV. The Runnin’ Rebels beat the Matadors, 4-0, handing CSUN its first loss and giving UNLV the tournament championship. . . . John Tronson missed most of last week’s practice sessions because of a heel problem, believed to be related to blood poisoning. It didn’t stop him against San Diego State, however, when he scored two goals to lead the Matadors. Tronson has six goals in six games.

Goalkeeper Phil Heaver, gave up his first goals of the season to San Diego State and UNLV. Heaver has four shutouts this season. . . . Heaver’s work in the crease has been complemented by a feisty, mostly freshman defense. Steve Demaine, Andy Torres and Rick Gora aided the Matadors in their shutout of UCSB, a Division I team that has an offense made up mostly of upperclassmen. . . . CSUN’s next home game is Saturday against Claremont College at North Campus Stadium. Play begins at 7:30 p.m.