Retiz Thrives on Being in Middle of the Action

Jose Retiz brings considerable talent to the field each time he plays for the Santa Ana College soccer team.

But his skills aren’t the first thing Coach J.P. Frutos mentions when talking about the talented halfback from Saddleback High.

Instead, Frutos goes on about Retiz’s positive attitude, not only about soccer but about his teammates, his classwork and life.

Retiz said he is doing well academically, but Frutos told a story about how Retiz got a “D” in one class, which counts as passing, but would not settle for it.

So Frutos said Retiz, with no prodding, took the class again and got a “B.”

“He sets the standard for this team,” Frutos said. “He gives of himself completely. He may be tired, but he finds strength somewhere. He demands of his teammates what he demands of himself.”

Santa Ana and Irvine Valley, both undefeated in the Orange Empire Conference at the time, met in a game last week and Retiz was weak with the flu.

But it never showed as he organized Santa Ana’s attack as well as ever. The Dons scored three goals in the first half, including one when Retiz made a spectacular pass from about 40 yards out.

The team captain drilled the ball across the mouth of the goal and onto the foot of teammate Robert Corona, who scored with ease.

Such solid play has become nearly commonplace for Retiz, who came to Orange County from Acapulco five years ago.

Retiz brought with him an intense desire to succeed.

“Here,” Retiz said of the United States, “you have everything. It is up to you to take it or not. Every practice, every game, I bring everything. I don’t wait for tomorrow.”

Such determination has made Retiz a favorite of assistant coach Jose Vasquez as well.

“He’s got a great touch on the ball,” Vasquez said, “He doesn’t lose many balls. When you are in trouble, you want him to have the ball. He has a great left foot.”

But Retiz’s career at Santa Ana didn’t start off as well as it is going right now. He played on the outside in the midfield the first few games.

The Dons started the season by losing to Glendale, and Retiz was soon moved inside in an effort to get him more involved in the flow of the game.

The more Retiz touched the ball, the better Santa Ana played, and the Dons went on to win the state title with a 5-0 victory over Santa Barbara.

“He was the one who really made the team click in that final game,” Frutos said.

The Dons (15-0 this season) have an unbeaten streak of 40 games.

Retiz spent last spring and summer working with weights and running, and he’s a better player because of it this season. His mental approach has also improved.

“It’s fun,” Retiz said, “and having fun is important to me. In high school I would get mad a lot, but here I just work. I don’t get mad anymore.”

SCORING MACHINE

Cypress, which won the state women’s soccer title last season, is ranked first in the state and second in the nation this season.

Freshman forward Alie Nunez (Valencia High) already has set the college’s single-season record for goals with 28. She passed Sheri Smith, who scored 25 in 1997.

Sophomore midfielder Jane Specht has 18 and Tymarie Novak has 15 goals for the Chargers this season.

Their efforts have helped give Cypress a chance at setting a team single-season scoring record.

The Chargers’ all-time record is 125 set in 1997 and this year’s team has 96 goals with six regular season and at least one playoff game left.