Lukas Holocher and Francisco Ayala Make State ODP Team

There are currently three players that are recognized in all Cal South ODP State Teams that live north of Santa Barbara. Lukas Holocher (San Luis Obispo, ‘96) and Francisco “Kiko” Ayala (Santa Maria, ‘97) represent two of the three, and they both play for the BU13 Eagles on the Central Coast.

Both Lukas and Kiko were invited to the ODP Tryouts down in Los Angeles over the last month, and both players were named to the top 18 in their respective age groups.

Both players showed their versatility during the course of the tryout process. Kiko, a former center defender and current forward/attacking midfielder, was placed at an outside midfielder position during his trial and proved to be one of the best in the state there as well. With his strong physical presence and speed, combined with technical flare, Kiko entered the trial as a nobody and came out a force to be reckoned with. “He has the ability to play, compete and excel against anyone in the nation,” says Eagles BU13 coach Mark Jones. “I hope this experience proves to him that I am not the only one that believes it.” Kiko will be attending the Nike Friendship Cup in Oregon at the end of the month. Lukas Holocher, son of Cal Poly Head Coach and former MLS player Paul Holocher, was also placed in a position which he was unfamiliar with during his trial. A current outside midfielder/attacking midfielder/forward, Lukas began his trial playing outside back. The coaches were truly impressed with his natural instinct to attack out of the back and push forward. It only took one weekend for Lukas to be given the honor of representing his state in this summer’s Region IV ODP Camp. “Lukas sets an example every single day. His work rate and competitiveness defines his most dominant characteristic: reliable. This is not the first time you will hear the name Lukas Holocher,” says coach Mark Jones.

These two players represent a very important link to the Central Coast. They have now been given the job to pave the path for future players from the area and from the Eagles Soccer Club. For this we are all truly thankful for their dedication on and off the field to the sport.