Sports

Rival Soccer Players from Murrieta Head to Same University

Soccer rivals Dale Howard of Murrieta Valley and Cory Vanderpool of Vista Murrieta head to Dominican University in the fall.

Two exceptional Murrieta soccer players from cross-town rival teams will step out into college play next year--together.

Dale Howard, 18, a senior at Murrieta Valley High School and Cory Vanderpool, 18, a senior at Vista Murrieta High School, will play on the same team at Dominican University in San Rafael. They'll also be roommates.

While they may have played on opposing teams in high school--Murrieta Valley remains undefeated against Vista Murrieta--they played on the same club team.

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It was on that club team, Arsenal FC of Temecula, that they got noticed. The team tied for Presidio Cup League Title and won Nomads League, the biggest tournament in Southern California, said Ryan Vanderpool, Cory's father.

"We e-mailed tons of schools and (Dominican) came out and watched our tournament," Cory said.

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But both gave up year-round academy play to focus on their high school teams.

"Both of them have so much pride in their schools," his father said.

They have known each other since they were 7, but weren't really close until recently. Dale went to elementary school at E. Hale Curran and middle school at Shivela. Cory was born in Murrieta, delivered at Inland Valley Regional Medical Center.

Both played varsity for three years in high school--Cory as a defensive center back, Dale as a midfield or forward. Cory had a close call when he fell and broke his pelvic bone during a game his sophomore year. He couldn't play for six months, but made it back and said he has no lasting problems from the injury.

But it wasn't just the athletic skills that got them into the small, private university.

"My parents always said that academics come first, and enforce it," Cory said. He's held a 3.5 GPA.

Dale also kept up his studies.

"I knew that academics were always going to be important," Dale said.

So he kept up a 3.8 GPA. He currently takes college algebra through Mt. San Jacinto College.

Dale's mother, Monica Howard, said playing for a college team has always been her son's goal.

"Dale is very driven. It is his work ethic that has gotten him where he is. As far back as I can remember, he has always set goals for himself," Monica said.

For instance, she said Dale competed in the Camp Pendleton 10K Mud Run in June, and came in 22nd out of 2,500 participants. While others taped their shoes to keep the mud out, Dale didn't yet know that trick.

"So he was running with that extra weight," she said.

Both players said they are excited to begin the next chapter of their lives. After graduation in June, they will head off to the San Francisco Bay area in August. Two other players from their club team will go, too--one from Riverside and one from Idyllwild.

"I'm looking forward to the independence," Dale said. He's already wearing yellow cleats as homage to his new school.

It can't hurt that the campus is 77 percent female, either, both agreed. August can't come soon enough.


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