BOYS' SOCCER: THE SEARCH IS OVER FOR S.F. BARAJAS, WHO PARTICIPATED IN U.S. UNDER-17 PROGRAM, MAKES IMPACT WITH TIGERS.Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer The Internet research This article is about using the Internet for research; for the field of research about the Internet, see Internet studies. Internet research is the practice of using the Internet, especially the World Wide Web, for research. results were intriguing in·trigue n. 1. a. A secret or underhand scheme; a plot. b. The practice of or involvement in such schemes. 2. A clandestine love affair. v. , to say the least. Still, what Edgar Barajas has shown his new coach on the field is more impressive than a resume that includes a spot in the youth national program. Barajas won't boast about his accomplishments, so when Norman Mejia took over as the San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. High boys' soccer coach this season, the coach decided to do some research to find out more about the player he was told had missed last season to participate in the U.S. Soccer under-17 residency A duration of stay required by state and local laws that entitles a person to the legal protection and benefits provided by applicable statutes. States have required state residency for a variety of rights, including the right to vote, the right to run for public office, the program in Florida. The writeups and statistics on Barajas led to high expectations. Barajas' Valley Mission League league-high 19 goals and five assists through 16 games have kept expectations soaring soaring: see flight; glider. soaring or gliding Sport of flying a glider or sailplane. The craft is towed behind a powered airplane to an altitude of about 2,000 ft (600 m) and then released. for the Tigers, who take a nine-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" into today's league showdown with rival Sylmar. ``I'd just heard about him by name,'' Mejia said of the senior forward, who remains in the national program as part of the under-18 training pool. ``I did some research on the Internet and looked up what he'd done. What impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: me was he wasn't just playing with the national team, he was scoring. He was successful at a very high level, so I was excited to have someone like that on our team. ... So far, he's lived up to expectations and more.'' Barajas opened the season with three goals against Chatsworth, the first of his three hat tricks hat trick n. Sports 1. Three goals scored by one player in one game, as in ice hockey. 2. Three wickets taken in cricket by a bowler in three consecutive balls. 3. so far this season. He has scored in every game this season except for a shutout Not to be confused with Shootout. In team sports, in American English, a shutout (a clean sheet in soccer) refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. loss to nationally ranked Canoga Park. He has five goals and three assists in three league games for the first-place Tigers (13-2-1, 3-0). ``I try to score at least one goal every game,'' Barajas said. ``That's my goal. But as long as the team is playing good and we're winning, I'm happy.'' Although San Fernando has other talented players such as veteran midfielder
In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). Moises Alverez, who leads the team with 15 assists, Barajas is often at the heart of the Tigers' success. Against Quartz Hill in the semifinal of last month's Hart tournament, Barajas scored all three goals, including the winner in the final seconds. He contributed a goal and an assist the next day as San Fernando beat North Hollywood for the championship. His 5-foot-6, 155-pound stature stature /sta·ture/ (stach´ur) the height or tallness of a person standing.stat´ural stat·ure n. The height of a person. stature the height of an animal in the standing position. rarely leaves Barajas at a disadvantage against significantly larger defenders, who are starting to double- and triple-team him as word spreads about his skills. ``Edgar's very smart,'' Mejia said. ``It's almost like he knows what the defenders are going to do and outsmarts them. He's a fantastic finisher. It makes a difference when you have a finisher like that.'' Whenever Barajas is facing difficult situations with the Tigers, Mejia reminds him that he has faced bigger challenges while playing with the national program and tells him to draw on that experience. England, Japan and Switzerland are among the countries Barajas has played in while with the national team. ``That helped me a lot,'' Barajas said. ``I got to play against some really good players and see what it's like to play in other countries.'' Barajas rarely talks about his national team experience around the Tigers, preferring to fit in as just another one of the guys. He returned home and watched San Fernando games during his breaks last year, leaving him wishing he could be on the field with his friends, but also keeping him familiar enough with the team for a smooth transition when he returned this season. Soccer has been a part of Barajas' life for as long as he can remember, having grown up in a family infatuated in·fat·u·at·ed adj. Possessed by an unreasoning passion or attraction. in·fat  u·at with the sport. If he
doesn't meet academic standards to play in college, Barajas said he
will likely play in Mexico next year.
``My dad, when I was small, he would tell me about soccer and that one day I'd play,'' Barajas recalls. ``Then I started playing when I was 5. I was the best on the team, and that's when people started telling me I could go far. ``Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport, and I want to keep playing it as long as I can. I do want to play professionally, that's my goal.'' heather.gripp@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Edgar Barajas has scored 19 goals and tallied five assists so far for San Fernando. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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