Ask anyone tied into the Syracuse men’s soccer team. Players, coaches, parents, and alumni will all agree that Richard Aloisi is the biggest critic of his son, Chris.

Good or bad game, win or loss, he’ll find something, rest assured. This honesty helped Chris Aloisi become one of the great defenders in Syracuse history and a member of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.

‘My dad is my biggest fan but also my biggest critic,’ Aloisi said. ‘He’d rather tell me what I did wrong than what I did right.’

Which, from what Richard says, wasn’t much in Chris’ five years in an Orangeman uniform.

Still, Aloisi is one of only two players – along with John McCallion – to ever captain the soccer team for three seasons. During Aloisi’s time, the Orangemen did not have as much success as he would have hoped, though, making it difficult for professional scouts to notice him.

Phone calls by head coach Dean Foti made sure that Syracuse’s season-ending loss against Pittsburgh would not be the last of Aloisi’s career. Aloisi was given the opportunity to showcase his talents at the MLS combine in Los Angeles. That chance was undoubtedly the biggest key in earning the sixth draft pick of Galaxy coaches Sigi Schmid and Martin Vasquez.

The combine was a three-day event, consisting of player physicals, followed by one game each day. Aloisi settled in nicely at his familiar position of center back, and the rest took care of itself.

Aloisi’s on-the-field skills – which helped him earn third-team All-Big East honors twice – caught the eye of Schmid and Vasquez.

‘We went with the attitude of drafting good soccer players,’ Vasquez said. ‘We weren’t looking for stereotypes. We just went with an open mind. The first thing we liked about Chris, he was very comfortable with the ball, he was a good defender and he had good pace.’

But with only three spots open on the team for six drafted players, something else had to stand out for him. That’s when his versatility took center stage. His ability to play several positions in the back and even move up to midfield brought flexibility to the Galaxy lineup.

Aloisi signed a developmental contract, a title that usually doesn’t equal much playing time. But Aloisi is simply thankful for the opportunity given to him.

‘I’m just trying to get my feet wet,’ he said, ‘get my feet in the door.’

That request is granted to development players who not only practice every day with the team but have games set up for them following league games. They play semi-pro teams and college teams.

The Galaxy won their first game of the season Saturday, a 3-2 victory over the New England Revolution, and Aloisi was quick to share the excitement he felt for his first professional soccer appearance.

‘I had butterflies at practice when the stadium was empty,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t expecting to play, but I was still that excited. We walked out from the tunnel to 25,000 strong. I wish everyone could feel that.’

Playing for one of the better teams in the league, Aloisi will have his chance to grow as a player, practicing daily with the likes of U.S. National Team mainstay Cobi Jones. Vasquez feels the biggest difference between the Big East and the MLS ranks is the pace of the game and each player’s ability to make transitions. A solid defender has to be able to go from an attacking style back to correct defensive position faster in the MLS. Aloisi is also relied upon to get the ball up to attack immediately after winning it.

Kevin Bacher, former star SU goalkeeper and current assistant soccer coach for the University of Connecticut, feels that his best friend can easily make that transition. The two were teammates for a successful Saint John the Baptist High School soccer team, but they shared some tough losing seasons during their college careers. Bacher took the positives out of that, though.

‘It definitely helped him be mentally tougher,’ Bacher said. ‘Chris is one of the most competitive people I know.’

Foti was quick to point out the strong character of his former captain after the draft. He spoke on the phone with Vasquez, affirming Aloisi’s great attitude. Vasquez agreed completely with the description after getting to know the newest member of the team.

Aloisi’s stay so far in Los Angeles has been filled with training and adjusting to the professional game, aside from the distance from his family and friends in Central New York.

‘The first thing I could get used to,’ Aloisi said, ‘is the weather.’

Aloisi and his teammates will welcome D.C. United to the warm weather next, and their newest member, Freddy Adu. Aloisi sees the 14-year-old celebrity as just another player, but thinks the publicity is great for the sport.

It’s a sport that has had much significance in the Aloisi household. It turned a father and son into best friends, showed a young man the world at an early age and is earning him money doing something he loves. Richard plans on flying out to see his son play, and he’ll probably offer a few choice comments about his performance. But for now, despite speaking on the phone twice a day, the elder Aloisi isn’t busting his son’s chops as frequently as many have come to get used to.

‘Whatever makes Chris happy,’ Richard said, ‘makes us happy.’

Even if the commentary takes a back seat.

Published on April 7, 2004 at 12:00 pm