Memo Arzate
Encyclopedia
Guillermo "Memo" Arzate is an American
soccer midfielder
who last played for Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. He previously played for the University of California, Santa Barbara
's Men's Soccer team.
Following an impressive high school career, Arzate attended Compton Community College, a route which would be later followed by Gaucho alum Tino Nuñez
. With the Tartars, Arzate completed two seasons and was named First Team All-South Coast Conference and Conference MVP in both seasons. He amassed 18 goals and 27 assists in 2001 for an astonishing 63 points in a single season. The offensive output certainly turned heads, that of Tim Vom Steeg
in particular.
following his stellar offensive output with Compton Community College. During his junior year, he contributed immediately. He saw action in 21 games, scoring 4 goals and assisting in 18 assists for 26 points. The total was good for 3rd on the team, surpassing eventual professionals in David McGill
, Neil Jones, Alan Keely
, Tony Lochhead
, Nate Boyden
. The offensive output guided the UCSB Gauchos to their first ever NCAA playoff appearance, defeating University of San Diego
2-0 at Harder Stadium
before falling at University of California, Berkeley
Golden Bears
2-1.
As a senior, Arzate played in 22 games, 21 of those started. He increased his point total to 30 points with 6 goals and 18 assists. The total put him in a three-way tie for the team lead with Drew McAthy
and Neil Jones. With points aplenty, UCSB received a first round bye into the NCAA playoffs and beat previous tournament opponent University of California, Berkeley
Golden Bears
2-0 at Harder Stadium
, before falling 3-2 in double overtime at St. John's University in the Sweet 16.
powerhouse, Memo Arzate was getting looks from the professional ranks. He caught the eye of Sigi Schmid
and the Los Angeles Galaxy
, who in turn drafted Memo with the 2nd pick of the 3rd round (22nd overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. With the Galaxy, he made an appearance in a pre-season friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes
in his old stomping ground Harder Stadium
, home of the UCSB Gauchos. While a hit with the Santa Barbara fans, the Galaxy grew more disillusioned with the pick and Arzate did not make the Galaxy's 2004 roster.
Memo took matters into his own hands and went to Seattle, Washington
, in hopes of joining up with the Seattle Sounders
. Unfortunately, he was not signed by the Sounders, but another Pacific Northwest USL First Division team took notice.
After being referred to the Portland Timbers
by fellow Santa Barbara
native Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar
, Arzate impressed with his performances. He was eventually signed at the end of training camp. The Santa Barbara reunion was short-lived however, as Arzate was released following the completion of the 2004 season. He appeared in only 3 games for the club.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who last played for Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He previously played for the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
's Men's Soccer team.
Pre-UCSB
Memo Arzate attended Artesia High School from 1995 to 1999. He was a member of the Pioneers' soccer team which won back-to-back Suburban League Championships in '97 and '98. Arzate was a three-time Artesia High School MVP, as well as league MVP when he was a sophomore and junior. He was also recognized as the Pioneers' Offensive Player of the Year in '96 and '97.Following an impressive high school career, Arzate attended Compton Community College, a route which would be later followed by Gaucho alum Tino Nuñez
Tino Nuñez
Agustin "Tino" Nuñez is an American soccer player.-Youth and College:Nuñez was a four year letter-winner at Millikan High School in Long Beach, California. With Nuñez on the squad, Millikan ran to four consecutive Moore League Championships as well as one CIF Championship in Nuñez's junior year...
. With the Tartars, Arzate completed two seasons and was named First Team All-South Coast Conference and Conference MVP in both seasons. He amassed 18 goals and 27 assists in 2001 for an astonishing 63 points in a single season. The offensive output certainly turned heads, that of Tim Vom Steeg
Tim Vom Steeg
Timothy Harold "Tim" Vom Steeg is an American collegiate soccer head coach who is currently with the University of California, Santa Barbara men's soccer team. He has been with the Gauchos since 1999 and is the most successful coach in the history of UC Santa Barbara...
in particular.
At UCSB
Memo Arzate was recruited to finish his junior and senior years at the University of California, Santa BarbaraUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
following his stellar offensive output with Compton Community College. During his junior year, he contributed immediately. He saw action in 21 games, scoring 4 goals and assisting in 18 assists for 26 points. The total was good for 3rd on the team, surpassing eventual professionals in David McGill
David McGill (footballer)
David "Giller" McGill is an Irish football central midfielder who is currently playing for League of Ireland First Division club Shelbourne. McGill is Shelbourne's captain.-Early career:...
, Neil Jones, Alan Keely
Alan Keely
Alan Vincent Keely , is an Irish footballer who plays for Leinster Senior League club Malahide United. Keely plays as a central defender and he is the son of former League of Ireland player and manager, Dermot Keely....
, Tony Lochhead
Tony Lochhead
Tony James Lochhead is a New Zealander football defender who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix of the A-League.-Club career:Lochhead went to America to play college soccer for UC Santa Barbara in 2001...
, Nate Boyden
Nate Boyden
Nathaniel "Nate" Boyden is an American soccer midfielder who last played for Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division...
. The offensive output guided the UCSB Gauchos to their first ever NCAA playoff appearance, defeating University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
2-0 at Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium is a 17,000 seat, outdoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. It serves as the on-campus soccer stadium for both the men's and women's programs...
before falling at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
2-1.
As a senior, Arzate played in 22 games, 21 of those started. He increased his point total to 30 points with 6 goals and 18 assists. The total put him in a three-way tie for the team lead with Drew McAthy
Drew McAthy
Drew Alan McAthy is an American soccer striker, who last played for Portland Timbers of the USL First Division....
and Neil Jones. With points aplenty, UCSB received a first round bye into the NCAA playoffs and beat previous tournament opponent University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
2-0 at Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium is a 17,000 seat, outdoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. It serves as the on-campus soccer stadium for both the men's and women's programs...
, before falling 3-2 in double overtime at St. John's University in the Sweet 16.
Professional career
Despite UCSB not being a "traditional" college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
powerhouse, Memo Arzate was getting looks from the professional ranks. He caught the eye of Sigi Schmid
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid is a German-American soccer coach. Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the University of California, Los Angeles , where he was a starting midfielder in each...
and the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, who in turn drafted Memo with the 2nd pick of the 3rd round (22nd overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. With the Galaxy, he made an appearance in a pre-season friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in his old stomping ground Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium
Harder Stadium is a 17,000 seat, outdoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. It serves as the on-campus soccer stadium for both the men's and women's programs...
, home of the UCSB Gauchos. While a hit with the Santa Barbara fans, the Galaxy grew more disillusioned with the pick and Arzate did not make the Galaxy's 2004 roster.
Memo took matters into his own hands and went to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, in hopes of joining up with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
. Unfortunately, he was not signed by the Sounders, but another Pacific Northwest USL First Division team took notice.
After being referred to the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
by fellow Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
native Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar is a Mexican footballer who most recently played for the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division.Alcaraz-Cuellar initially began playing soccer with the San Diego Flash in 2001...
, Arzate impressed with his performances. He was eventually signed at the end of training camp. The Santa Barbara reunion was short-lived however, as Arzate was released following the completion of the 2004 season. He appeared in only 3 games for the club.