DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Eric Izaguirre was impatient as a kid.
He wanted to play. Morning, afternoon, or night, Izaguirre was always ready to do something, anything.
So it was when he was 7 years old that Izaguirre’s mother Leticia Herbert placed him in a soccer league.
“We wanted him to be calm, get his energy toward something productive,” Herbert said. “And now everything he does is about soccer. Since then, he’s had a vision, and his vision has been about soccer.”
That vision has led Izaguirre to Kentucky. The four-year Sharyland High letterman signed a letter of intent Wednesday to compete for the University of Louisville.
Izaguirre will play left-back or outside midfielder for the Cardinals and will be on an athletic scholarship. The scholarship will pay for 45 percent of his school and could be upgraded to a full ride dependent upon performance.
“I had scholarships to go play junior college or NCAA Division II, but I knew I could play Division I,” said Izaguirre, a team captain for the district champ Rattlers this season. “It’s been my dream since I was a freshman. I talk to guys like (Mission native and Major League Soccer player) Mikey Lopez and they tell me to keep going, don’t give up.”
It makes sense, then, that Izaguirre got impatient waiting for a college coach to call in pursuit of his services.
Last month, he emailed every university in the south that had a Division I soccer program. He stated his interest and included a tape of his high school highlights.
“Louisville responded and they really liked it,” Izaguirre said. “From there, they saw me play in the All-Star Showcase, they made an evaluation and they offered me. I was thrilled.”
Louisville assistant coach Kris Bertsch made the first contact with Izaguirre and watched him at the all-star game. After that, Izaguirre began to have consistent talks with Louisville head coach Ken Lolla.
“We tell the kids that they have to sell themselves,” Sharyland High assistant boys soccer coach Jorge Guerra said. “We have the videos out there, we have the games, and since last year he compiled his highlights and started making a tape to send out to people. He got it.”
Louisville liked Izaguirre’s speed, ability and work ethic. None of that came as a surprise.
“He’s a very self-motivated guy,” Guerra said. “Every day at practice, every day during games, he’s a leader, he’s motivating, he’s working. He puts in the time. His work ethic is something that really stands out about him.”
All throughout his career, Izaguirre has strived for a particular standard. And playing on the Rattlers’ 2012 state championship club as a freshman, he only pushed and pushed and pushed some more.
“The bar was set really high,” Izaguirre said. “And you just keep working. You put in the time, you learn to play with more of a conscience and you get better. When you learn to play the game, you learn you don’t have to run a lot. You know how important passing is and knowing where to be and when. That’s the biggest thing.
“You keep learning, keep getting better and you can go places.”