One of the unfamiliar faces on the Mexico Gold Cup roster refined his game at the high school and college level in California. “I was spending my [Christmas] vacation with my family,” said Carlos Ochoa (left) of his Gold Cup invitation. “I was surprised. They called me and told me I was selected, and I couldn't believe it.” He earned his first cap against El Salvador and scored on a tap-in against Guatemala in his second game. He struggled along with his teammates in the shootout loss to South Korea. Born in Apatzingan, Michoacan, he moved to the Los Angeles area when he was 12. Ochoa scored 100 goals for Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin Park and was an NAIA All-American at Azusa Pacific University. MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy wanted to look at him in a 1999 preseason game. Assistant coach Ralph Perez took the Galaxy to Fresno for the game, which began with Ochoa on the bench. “I thought I was going to start but I didn't,” said Ochoa. “When I was asked to warm up with five minutes left, I said no. It was a bad attitude for myself. I got kind of mad. That was a bad thing for me to do. After that, I was done.” Mexican striker Carlos Hermosillo, a member of the Galaxy at the time, got Ochoa a tryout with Necaxa. He played a season with the Mexico City club, moved to Second Division Veracruz and then hooked up with Tigres. He scored three goals for the Monterrey club, runner-up in the 2001 Torneo Invierno. He knows he's mired deep on the depth chart of national team forwards. It doesn't matter. “I am not looking forward to the World Cup but I know I do have a chance,” said Ochoa. “I am very happy to be a professional player and my family is so proud I was picked for the Selecci=n. I don't think of tomorrow. I just think of now.” by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney # # #