BROTHERS IN BOOTS MCCLUNGS COMBINE TO PROVIDE GOALS, SHUTOUTS FOR Q.H.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Quartz Hill players dismiss it as a mysterious phenomenon. Like a shooting star, it's not to be explained by laymen. Only appreciated.

Whenever Ian McClung punts the ball from his goalkeeper position, his teammates swear, it somehow always finds its way to the foot of brother Kiel McClung.

It's not that they are complaining. That is as good a place as any.

Ian's eight shutouts and Kiel's 21 goals had Quartz Hill undefeated, untied and ranked No. 1 by the Daily News after the Rebels' first 17 games.

``Brotherly love, that's all I can say,'' forward Nick Angelillo said. ``Ian is very accurate with his punts. He can pick out Kiel and Kiel knows his brother so well. They have a great chemistry.''

That chemistry must be a brother thing. It isn't from extensive time playing with each other. Ian, a senior, is 15 months older than Kiel. So they have had to play club soccer on different teams.

When Kiel came up to varsity last season, it was the first time the brothers had played together since their AYSO days.

That makes what they're doing this year all the more special. The brothers can't think of anything better than going undefeated in what could be their last opportunity to play on the same team.

``Everything is coming together perfectly,'' Ian said. ``My sophomore year, I had a great season (recording eight shutouts in 10 Golden League games). But it was missing something. Kiel wasn't on the team. I couldn't enjoy it. I had my soccer family, but I didn't have my family.''

Ian is talking to colleges and mulling over his options, which currently include Cal State Northridge, Nevada-Las Vegas, The Master's College or possibly starting out at a junior college. He admits he probably is at a Division II level while he thinks Kiel is Division I material.

``It's just so much fun to watch how well my brother is doing and seeing him show more and more,'' Ian said. ``I have no doubt in my mind he will be playing pro ball somewhere, not because he is my brother but just because I'm seeing something special.''

Ian always has been a goalie and Kiel a striker. It made for easy play when they hit the park. Kiel could shoot and Ian could guard the net.

``Ian is in a position where he's all by himself,'' Kiel said. ``If he messes up, everyone knows about it. If I mess up, others can make up for me. He's in a harder situation.''

Kiel's improvement is a big reason for how well Quartz Hill is playing. Last year, Kiel scored 10 goals the entire season as a sophomore. Over the summer, he was chosen for the state team and traveled to England and Germany. Ian also went to Germany with the Antelope Valley Select team.

``Personally, I think (my improvement) is because of the people around me,'' Kiel said. ``They trust me more with the ball. My teammates have given me some great passes where it's like, `How can I not score these goals?' ''

Coming down to specifics, Kiel's foot skills stand out. There is a soccer commercial, much like the famous Tiger Woods commercial, in which a player impressively juggles the ball with his feet. Kiel can copy that commercial.

``He's like a guitarist,'' Ian said. ``He'll hear something and then play it. He'll look at this commercial, and the next day he'll be doing it.''

That ability to handle his feet allows Kiel to move quickly with and without the ball.

``His first step is off the charts right now,'' Quartz Hill coach Andre Matalon said. ``When he goes for a ball, he's going to get it.''

With someone so talented, Quartz Hill teammates can't blame Ian for looking Kiel's way.

``The guy is hot,'' Ian said. ``If I can get it to him, something is going to happen. I wouldn't lean on favoritism too much, but he is my brother.''

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Photo:

(color) Punts by Quartz Hill goalie Ian McClung, right, cover the distances on the field that separate him and his brother Kiel, a striker.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer