Oct. 28, 2011

Tweet

BERKELEY - CalBears.com caught up with junior forward Michael Munoz during a rare off week for the Golden Bears. A product of Coto de Caza, Calif., Munoz ranks second on the Cal men's soccer team with three goals and also has one game-winning goal in 2011.

CalBears.com: How good are you at FIFA?
Michael Munoz: Right off the bat, huh? We just got the new installment, and I'm right up there with the best I'd say. I'd put myself up there in the top three or four. The group that plays all the time is Kyle Lunt, Teddy Jones and Tony Salciccia. Those guys are pretty good.

CalBears.com: What's your favorite professional team?
MM: The team I support the most is Liverpool.

CalBears.com: Which player did you emulate as a kid?
MM: I'd definitely say Fernando Torres. I modeled my game after his, whether he was with Spain, Liverpool or Chelsea. I try to emulate him as much as I can

CalBears.com: How would you say Cal has been playing of late, particularly the (many) younger guys?
MM: You can tell every game that everyone's starting to come together. We're playing beautiful soccer. We've been getting the short end of the stick with some of these results. But we're playing a great style and have a great future with these guys.

CalBears.com: After you finish your Cal career, if you could choose to play professionally anywhere, where would you play?
MM: I'd go to Europe; Spain maybe. I really enjoy Europe. As far as the MLS teams, recently I got to hang out with Servando Carrasco, my old teammate, in Seattle. Their fan base is unbelievable. He's going through a cool thing up there.

CalBears.com: You're from Coto de Caza - along with freshman Christopher Rawji - so we've got to ask: Do you know any of the "Real Housewives of Orange County"?
MM: Actually my parents are friends with some of them. One of the girls on the show - Kara - used to go here, and I met her.

CalBears.com: Your siblings played college soccer. Where did they play?
MM: I have two older sisters and an older brother. My older sister, Shannon, went to Columbia University and did really well for herself; she was the Ivy League Player of the Year. My other two siblings - Ryan and Kristin - played at UCLA.

CalBears.com: Who's the best soccer player in your family?
MM: They're all really good. I wouldn't have been playing soccer if not for them. I copied my brother growing up. He's the reason I'm playing today. I'd say him and my older sister, for starting it all.

CalBears.com: What kind of career will you pursue after your playing days are done?
MM: I'm a legal studies major. I've been into property law. My dad taught me a lot of stuff about that. I admire property and real estate law. It's nice to have this legal groundwork with my major if I want to pursue that and go to law school.

CalBears.com: What kind of hobbies do you have?
MM: I was on the surf team in high school, so I enjoy surfing a lot. I go snowboarding. I grew up doing a lot of that stuff. Now I like hanging out with soccer guys, playing FIFA and doing a lot of outdoor stuff like hiking.