Most students would be communicating with their friends about where they want to hang out tonight. Most students would not be alone, yet two days before the second NCAA tournament playoff game for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, Mikey Lopez was doing just that.
At the university, there are many recreational fields where students and the community of Chapel Hill can use for different activities. The artificial turf and soccer lines allow for many types of games to be played on the field, so the field is rarely seen empty until the weather becomes too extreme. On a cold, Friday night in November, the field is usually not being used by anyone. Tonight was different. A soccer match had broken out with the whole field being used by two teams of 11—which is very uncommon for a pick-up game of soccer. Usually a group of 15 or less will be out playing on half of the field, but that night a large group of people decided to brave the cold and play. The two sides were playing as if it was no ordinary pick-up game—which allowed for some great soccer to be viewed from any spectators.
As I walked near the field, I heard them playing and decided to make my way to the bleachers next to the field to watch and enjoy a well-played match. I was expecting to be the only person wanting to watch these people play; however, someone else had soccer on their mind as well.
Mikey Lopez played for the University of North Carolina and just recently signed a MLS Generation Addidas deal. The 5’ 8” midfielder is one of the best midfielders, if not the best, from the MLS draft in January of 2013. At UNC, he excelled—scoring five goals and helping others score with five assists. He was voted ACC Freshman of the Year and helped lead UNC to win the NCAA National Championship in 2011. He also receives regular call-ups from the U-20 US Men’s National Team. Watching him play, along with talking to him, I see how great of a player he is. He runs non-stop from the start of the referee’s whistle until the last. He loves playing in defensive midfield, but does not shy away from pressing forward to seek glory. And, WOW! He has an amazing long shot. He is shorter than most teams would like defensive-midfielders to be, but his work ethic makes up for it ten-fold. He has been drafted by Sporting KC—which will allow him to play with great players and compete for a MLS Cup starting this summer. He will certainly make an impact right away for Sporting KC, and I would not be surprised to see him start outright by the end of the regular season.
After seeing him sitting alone, watching the game, I decided to talk to him. We exchanged in some small talk over the recent playoff win. I did not really realize it at the time, but Mikey knew a lot about soccer. He seemed to know as much as me if not more—which astounded me! I keep track of many teams in many different leagues around the world, yet he seemed to love the sport as much as I did. After realizing his love for the game, I decided I wanted to know more about him, especially since he is going to be playing professional football for Sporting KC.
I got a hold of Mikey Lopez online and asked him some short interview questions. I asked him if he is ready to compete in the MLS and where he wanted to play. He said that he does “feel ready for the MLS,” and that he prefers to play either “a defensive midfielder or like a box-to-box midfielder.” I also asked him what made him special compared to others in the MLS. He responded with:
“I don’t know. I like to think that I am, like I
said before, a box-to-box midfielder that contributes to both sides of the
ball. I can defend well enough to help out my defense, but I also know what to
do with the ball and be creative enough to help in the attack. I think that can
be my biggest difference to other midfielders in the MLS. So, I guess just
being able to play good on both sides of the ball, which is defending and attacking.”
Mikey Lopez seems ready to make a big impact in the
MLS and he will. Seeing him play at UNC has been a blessing. He never stops
running—which makes his desire of being a box-to-box midfielder seem absolute
rather than plausible. And, he seems to lead a team even if he is not the
captain—which was the case his 2nd year at UNC. I asked Mikey where he wanted
to be in five years, and his answer was that “hopefully in five years, I see
myself playing somewhere in Europe, either in La Liga or the Barclay’s Premier
League.” He wants to play in the two most known and best leagues in the
world—which is likely due to his incredible talent on the field and love for
the game. Also, he hopes “to play in the World Cup” someday or possibly “play
in a Champions League Final.”What makes Mikey Lopez so special, though?
The answer is simple: He loves soccer.
Why did I decide to take my girlfriend out in the cold to watch random people play a
recreational game? Maybe it is because I have nothing else to do or am bad at picking “date nights,” but maybe it is because I love the game of soccer way too much.
And, so does Mikey Lopez.
The spectacular midfielder was not out with his friends preparing to go out and party. Instead, he had only one thing on his mind—soccer. His desire to play for the biggest and best teams drives his passion for the game. Mikey Lopez loves the sport of soccer as much as anyone, and with his talent, he will achieve each and every one of his goals.
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