McKinley Barons’ Toughest Customer

Those who play and coach against Fountain Valley forward Cliff McKinley know he’s fast. They know he’s devastating once he touches the ball inside the penalty box, and they know he’s acrobatic in the air.

But they probably don’t know how tough he really is.

McKinley, a four-year starter who has scored 11 goals in the Barons’ first eight games, is playing with only one working kidney.

“I just don’t think about it,” said McKinley, who doesn’t wear extra padding to protect his functioning left kidney. “People have a lot of other problems, bad ankles, torn ligaments. This is just something I have to deal with.”

McKinley has been dealing with it since he was 4. That’s when his right kidney stopped working. McKinley said his good kidney is not 100% effective, either.

“The percentage of the 1/8left 3/8 kidney was low, but it’s been improving,” he said. “I take a pill every other day and the doctors are encouraged.”

Unless McKinley is asked about his medical condition, he doesn’t discuss it. Maybe that’s because he has gone on living his life as though he were in perfect health.

“It hasn’t really limited me,” he said. “I’ve had it for so long that I don’t even think about it.”

Glen Strachan, McKinley’s club coach with the Fountain Valley Wolfpack, said he often forgets about McKinley’s health problems.

“It shows what type of kid he is,” Strachan said. “If you know him long enough, you know he has the kidney problem. But you kind of forget about it because he just doesn’t let it bother him.”

Doctors have told McKinley that he should not play football, hockey or baseball.

“They said it was just too dangerous,” McKinley said. “But they never said I couldn’t play soccer.”

In fact, many people say just the opposite.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Strachan, who has coached McKinley for five years. “He’s the fastest guy around. Yet when he goes to finish, he’s always got a thought. He’s never frantic. He’s a 17-year-old kid who could play professionally right now if he wanted to.”

Fountain Valley Coach Jason Smith agrees.

“I’ve not seen a better soccer player in the county,” Smith said. “And he’s playing better than I’ve ever seen him play. You can’t take away his speed because he’s got three different speeds. And once he gets going, he’s either going to finish or set someone else up. I think he would have a chance 1/8to play professionally now 3/8 if 1/8he 3/8 went overseas.”

McKinley doesn’t disagree, and he thanks the professional coaches for their interest, but he’s more interested in getting his education and playing college soccer. Though he hasn’t taken any official visits, McKinley said he has narrowed his choices to UCLA, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine.

Long term, McKinley would like to make the national team. He took the first step toward that goal by making the pool for the under-18 state Olympic Development Program.

Short term, McKinley would love to return to the Southern Section Division I final. As a freshman, McKinley scored twice in the quarterfinals to help Fountain Valley beat Saddleback. The Barons were defeated in the final by Simi Valley Royal.

Fountain Valley lost in the first round the next year to Long Beach Millikan. Last year, the Barons started 10-2 but failed to qualify for the playoffs.

“We just fell apart in league,” McKinley said. “We got down on ourselves and never got our confidence back.”

If that happens to the second-ranked Barons (7-1) this season, McKinley, in his new role as team captain, will take responsibility.

“I have to be a leader, and I have to carry the load,” said McKinley, whose 45 career goals are a school record. “If people are goofing off, I have to keep them in check.”

TIMELY SCORING

Sophomore midfielder Jeff Murphy had a tournament to remember for eighth-ranked Servite last week. He scored game-winning goals in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the Brea Olinda tournament.

In the 2-1 championship-game victory over ninth-ranked Irvine, Murphy scored in the 67th minute off an assist from forward Mike Feliz.

Though Servite defeated Irvine, Friar Coach Mike Lussier couldn’t stop raving about Irvine forward Matt Taylor, who has 17 goals in seven games.

“I saw Matt Terry 1/8now at UCI 3/8 at his best, and this kid is as good or better,” Lussier said. “That goal he scored 1/8against us 3/8 was phenomenal. He beat three guys on the dribble, then he beat the goalie on the dribble. I still can’t believe it.”

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If you have an item or idea for the boys’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at david.mckibben@latimes.com