Stars In The Making – Three California Players To Watch
Malibu soccer standouts Chase McQueen, Cameron Silbar, and Frankie Mujic are expected to be the stars of the Shale Soccer Classic Presented by Admiral Sports in Massillon, Ohio.
The Shale Soccer Classic Presented by Admiral Sports, which takes place on July 24-25, will feature two national showcase matches and a friendly with the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL.
Chase McQueen, the grandson of American film icon Steve McQueen, is expected to start at goalkeeper against the Dutch Lions. McQueen recently returned from England after spending time with a number of teams there, including the London Tigers, Cheshunt FC, and Ilford FC. His time in England was not his first overseas, having previously played for the Dinamo Zagreb academy in Croatia.
McQueen is a tall, physical goalkeeper that is an intimidating presence between the posts. He is an intriguing pro prospect, a young player that has perfected his craft in Europe instead of going the traditional college route. He was a favorite among players, coaches, and even the media during his time in England.
It’s certainly admirable that he left behind a chance to be a figure in Hollywood, deciding to focus on his footballing dreams instead. He has traveled thousands of miles in pursuit of these dreams and this will happen once again when he comes to Ohio for the Shale Soccer Classic.
Omer Riza, a former striker for both Arsenal and West Ham, was quick to sing his praises for McQueen, “Chase always worked hard and showed a great attitude towards his training while I was player-manager at Cheshunt. He has an aspiration to be a very good goalkeeper as a professional. I admire his endeavor as it is a tough industry. I’m sure Chase will find his feet and I wish him and his family all the best. He’s a good boy and he will eventually find his level.”
McQueen received loads of publicity from features in The Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express, and Telegraph.
Cameron Silbar comes from a similar “Hollywood” background with his father being a long-time actor and Broadway performer. Cameron chose to continue his soccer career across the country at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.
Flagler head coach John Lynch has high expectations for his prized defender, a key recruit that came nearly 2,500 miles to play for the Saints.
“Cameron is a quick, tough player. He is very coachable and an extremely hard-working player,” said Lynch. “He likes a challenge and trains as hard if not harder than anyone I’ve seen. With his technical ability and determination I expect him to have a very good season.”
Like McQueen, Silbar hopes to make enough of an impact to have a chance to play at the professional level. His skill set, determination, and work rate would make him the ideal pro. He just has to put in the time and gain some valuable experience. He has already started gaining game experience, starting seven of seven spring matches for Flagler in 2015.
Simply put, he is a player with unlimited potential and he is just getting started. Silbar will be part of the backline that will play in front of McQueen, assuring the team of a strong defensive effort. The defense will also include former All-Americans Mark Blades and Barry Rice, both of whom spent time with Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs.
Frankie Mujic is expected to be the top player in the girls showcase thanks to her experience in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and with the Croatian U-17 national team.
Despite being the youngest player in league history, Mujic was named to the 2014 PAC-South All-Star and WPSL National All-Star teams in her first season.
This is no easy feat considering that U.S. Women’s National Team stars Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach, Heather O’Reilly, Alex Morgan, and Julie Foudy all are WPSL alumni. Cal South players are known across the USA for their accomplishments and passion for the beautiful game.
Even more impressive is the fact that Mujic is expected to join the Croatian U-19 National Team this fall, once again making her the youngest player on the squad.
Coming to Ohio to play in the Shale Soccer Classic is just another part of her soccer journey, an opportunity she is looking forward to. “I am very excited,” said Mujic. “Hopefully it will be a good crowd. I don’t feel any pressure because it’s just what I do. It’s like my job.”
And Mujic knows this is just a small piece of the puzzle, one event in what is already a promising and exciting career. “My life goal is to be a professional soccer player and play in the upcoming Olympics and the next Women’s World Cup,” said Mujic. “I don’t just want to be an athlete though; I want soccer to be my podium to help the world. I also love writing, nature, and philosophy, but without soccer I wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of that. Soccer has taught me many more things than just how to score goals.”
This California trio has big dreams and even bigger talent. They should be some of the best players to ever grace a Northeast Ohio pitch. Simply put, they are stars in the making.
