Senior defender Emilio Arizaga brings alive a basketball adage on the soccer field for Marmion.
You can’t coach size, or so the saying goes. But when it comes to the 6-foot-5 Arizaga, he has learned how to adapt his elite height, especially when moving up from his central spot on defense.
And here’s how it goes.
”The ball got played in, and it took a couple of bounces, but I got to the right position,” Arizaga said. “I can get to those balls with my size. I’m always there putting a body on the field.”
Arizaga stood tall Wednesday night, scoring a goal in the 38th minute for the Cadets in a 1-0 victory over Maine South in pool-play action of the St. Charles Invitational at St. Charles East.
The goal was Arizaga’s first of the season. He also rued some missed chances.
”Obviously, I wanted to get another one,” Arizaga said. “But it was more important just to hunker down defensively and make sure they didn’t have any more chances.”
Senior forward Giovanni Magana produced the assist for Marmion (2-2). Senior goalkeeper Adam Ozsvath made six saves to secure the shutout.
The angular Arizaga and the dynamic Ozsvath establish a perfect wall on defense for Marmion.
“He has really come into his game at both the offensive and defensive side,” Ozsvath said of Arizaga. “We have height, we have leaping ability in the back, and we are very physical.
“Emilio has developed a really clean and direct style.”
The interesting part about his height is how Arizaga upends typical presumptions about his game.
”Sometimes, there’s an awkward quality to him because of his size,” Marmion coach Gerardo Alvarez said. “Players look at him and think they can just naturally go right at him or that he’s not very good. He has become a very good one-on-one defender who really takes on challenges.”
A two-year starter, Arizaga links his physical profile to a personal style and elemental approach. Quiet and self-contained off the field, he shows his emotion through a clean and efficient form.
“My style is very no-nonsense,” he said. “Last year I was more supportive of the central back who was a senior. Now I’d say the primary or equal player in the middle.
“My mindset has just evolved. I’m very good at clearing balls out of the back, in the air or just being around the play.”
With each game, Arizaga displays a full range of his abilities, his confidence growing and expanding what he’s capable of doing.
”Today was a really big game for him,” Alvarez said. “He had some critical challenges when their attacking players were streaking down the field.
“To be fair, he didn’t have a great start to the year, but he is really starting to find his game. He uses his body very well, and he is a good tackler.”
Arizaga played basketball in middle school until he began concentrating exclusively on soccer.
As a young kid first learning the sport, Arizaga matriculated to playing in the back as a tribute to his father, who also played defender.
“My dad was the one who really got me involved in the game,” he said. “He was really into Chivas, the Mexican team, and Barcelona. I caught his passion.
“I started playing when I was about 5 or 6. I’ve always been tall, ever since I was born, so it was natural to play the game.”
Arizaga has aspirations of playing at the college level. His focus, however, is on the present.
That fits his nature.
“I have a lot of high hopes for this team and what we’re capable of,” he said. “I love the challenges and the open runs. Soccer is about being in position and doing something.
“Today I was in the right place at the perfect time.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
