The Royal Guard : Goalie Russell a Bulwark in Highlanders’ Drive for Section Title

No Trespassing signs have yet to appear in front of the soccer nets at Royal High. But goalie Ty Russell gets the message across just by standing there.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior guards the goal with a full-contact style similar to the one he uses as a Highlander linebacker, and combines that approach with a calculating mind and a tireless work ethic. Russell led the Highlanders (19-5-2) to a share of their fourth straight Marmonte League soccer title earlier this month and is crucial to Royal’s hopes for a Southern Section Division I title as the team prepares for a quarterfinal match at Edison today.

“The goalie is probably the most-important person on the field during the playoffs,” said Royal Coach Kevin Corley, whose team advanced past the first round for the first time in three years. “There’s so much pressure that a single mistake will cost you the game.”

Russell has made few errors this season, with nine shutouts and a 12-1-1 record.

“He has great natural instincts to play goalie,” Royal assistant Glen Gordon said. “He makes great decisions on when to come out of the net and when to stay near it.” People look at him and say, ‘Yeah, he’s big, but . . .’ and then once they see him play he really blows them away.”

Russell has improved on his impressive skills this season by refining the instructions he shouts to Royal defenders. Once known as a loudmouth, Russell now concentrates on keeping his messages short and upbeat.

“I’m kind of a loud person but I’ve learned to direct it,” Russell said. “If you criticize right away it only brings the team down. Now I try to get (the defenders) in the right position by being positive.”

Such directions are a must in Royal’s defense-oriented scheme because the two defenders in front of Russell, Brandon Kay and Ryan Walker, are sophomores in their first year on varsity.

But ultimately it is Russell who must keep the ball out of the net, and Corley rests assured when he sees his keeper in a one-on-one showdown.

“His biggest asset is his play on breakaways,” said Corley, adding that Russell has developed a softer touch when catching the ball and gives up few rebounds. “He gets out there real quick, he takes up a lot of space and he’s intimidating. He’s not afraid at all.”

Corley and Russell stress that goaltending is a cerebral occupation. But it’s one that also requires its practitioners to react quickly and fight for the ball, an area in which Russell excels.

“It’s not just his size, it’s his size matched with his aggression,” said teammate Vince Alves. “A lot of players are scared to go in hard against him.”

That sentiment held true during football season, when Russell’s 116 tackles and 3.6 grade-point average attracted the attention of Naval Academy football coaches. After taking an official recruiting trip to Annapolis in January, Russell accepted an appointment to the military school.

Russell said football has helped him with soccer, where charging forwards and crowds in front of the goal don’t faze him.

“After playing football I’m not afraid of the contact in soccer,” said Russell, a first-team All-Marmonte League soccer selection in 1993-94. “Goalie is more of an individual deal and you’re the last line of defense. . . . Linebacker is more physically demanding, but for both you have to zero in on the ball.”

Corley said Russell’s read-and-react football training is particularly handy during the playoffs, when successful soccer teams score often on set plays and have long-distance throw-in specialists.

“The goalie has to survey where all the players are positioned and see what options they have available,” Corley said. “After that he has to have his total attention on the ball. He can’t worry about moving bodies or where players are running to. He has to be able to see through all that and go get the ball.”

And when Russell goes to the ball, everyone else had better get out of the way. The last team to try to knock him around was Bell Gardens, in a tournament last season. The Lancers learned their lesson the hard way after Russell moved out of the goal to catch a high, soft shot.

“One of their strikers ran into Ty at full speed, and by that time (Ty) was standing still,” Corley said. “Ty should have taken the brunt of (the collision) or at least staggered, but he didn’t move and the other guy was flat on his back. Ty looks down at him, like, ‘What are you doing? ‘ “

After starting at goalie as a sophomore and then splitting time last season, Russell has been the Highlanders’ No. 1 choice again this year, despite a delay caused by hernia surgery.

Russell suffered the injury early in the football season and had surgery in late November.

He spent all of three days resting before getting back to school and everyday life, and started a tournament match Dec. 26.

Since then, Russell has been working himself back into playing shape. He said he played at full strength for the first time in the Marmonte League tournament championship Feb. 10, when Royal was upset by Simi Valley.

“For me that (match) was a step in the right direction,” Russell said. “I got my timing back even though they scored two goals. I knew where I should have been and now I’m there. It’s kind of a relief, I don’t have to worry about catching up anymore.”

That’s bad news for Edison and any other team Royal may face in the playoffs, where a hot goalie can carry a team to the title.

“It gives you one less thing to worry about,” Gordon said. “You know you have a goalie who can make that one stop a (match) that will win it for you.”