IVC Men's Soccer News

Men's soccer player Greg Ricks headed to Loyola Marymount
Feb 02, 2007

Irvine Valley College men’s soccer coach Martin McGrogan announced that sophomore midfielder Greg Ricks has committed to play at Loyola Marymount University next season.

Ricks was a starter and key player for the Lasers this past season. He was a stalwart defensive midfielder, but also added two goals and one assist.

He helped Irvine Valley finish with a record of 15-4-4 and make a deep run in the playoffs. The Lasers reached the Southern California Regional Playoff finals.

The former El Toro High standout talked about his season at Irvine Valley and what he expects next year at Loyola Marymount.

"Playing for IVC has been an amazing experience for me," Ricks said. "The team is so well supported by the faculty and we have an amazing coaching staff. Coach McGrogan has done great things with the IVC men’s soccer program.
"Coach (Shaun) Harris was a new addition to the team this year but brought with him many great players and a great confidence to the team.

"Coach (Laurie) Abrahams really added another dimension to the team with his analytical thought process that he presents to players. It made us think and go beyond and understand more of the game.
"Having the coaching staff behind me has meant the world to me."

Ricks said he enjoyed being around his fellow teammates just as much.

"The team was a great group of guys this year," he said. "Everyone got along great and really helped the overall moral and drive of our team."

Ricks is headed to a Loyola Marymount squad that finished with a record of 9-8-2 last year and finished third in the West Coast Conference.

"I picked LMU because they were the perfect match for me and my family," Ricks said. "At LMU I have the best resources to pursue my academic and athletic goals. I was comfortable on campus, the academics are great, the team is very competitive and has enormous potential to do great things.
"I believe that head coach (Paul) Krumpe and associate head coach (Mathes) Mennell will do big things with the LMU men's soccer program in the next two years."

Ricks wants to contribute for Loyola Marymount any way he can.

"I have played as a defensive center mid for Irvine Valley but I will be playing which ever position coach Krumpe and coach Mennell see as the most beneficial to the team," Ricks said. "I know that LMU already has a defensive center mid that is second to none; hopefully I can play along side him or possibly slide back into one of the defensive back positions.

"The LMU team is a great side and I know it’s going to take a lot of work to get myself on the field," Ricks added. "I’m really looking forward to the challenge."