IRVINE, Calif. --- Jorge Lara's profile checks out in becoming the Anteater's next wave of defense.
Lara's track record has success written all over it. He learned soccer from a young age from his father, and his brother, Alonso, is already making a name with Celaya FC of Ascenso MX, Mexico's Second Division.
"Jorge is a very tenacious and versatile defender," lauded Head Coach Chris Volk. "He has a confident ability to win his defensive battles while maintaining possession and initiating the attack."
Jorge was named all-conference first team at Turlock High School, a place where he was named Freshman MVP for the conference. He's been named to the honor roll, student of the month last month, and was named Most Athletic and Most Likely to Become a Pro Athlete by his peers.
On the club circuit, Lara spent five years under J.R. Maldonado at Milan FC before joining forces with Stephen Wondolowski on the San Jose Earthquakes Academy club. He took home four regional titles with Milan FC and three Surf Cup titles between the two clubs from 2011-13.
"Jorge's strength of winning aerial duels is uncanny for a player of his stature. Training with the San Jose Earthquakes Academy has prepared him to be a successful defender in the Big West Conference and adds depth to our backline."
"I chose UC Irvine because I felt welcomed from the moment I stepped on campus." Lara values his family around him, and is eager to create more bonds with the program already in place.
"The location is wonderful, the academics are great, the coaching staff is great, and I also have a lot of family nearby. I'm a team person that works hard, and I also love meeting new people."
Away from the pitch, he's volunteered at various churches, schools, and organizations including Sacred Heart Church and Relay for Life. Lara is also very interested in criminology which he plans to study, and has aspirations on a career as an investigator. His first order of business will be taking his investigative skills to the backline to break down opposing attackers.
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