SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: College/Professional

Where are they now?

For heart, Roby Monroe is biggest man on the field

By Phillip Brents
Posted Sept. 20, 2004

For those who have watched Roby Monroe play over the years, be it at Chula Vista High School, Southwestern College, with the University of Mary in North Dakota, the Colorado Springs Stampede or the Colorado Comets of the Premier Development League, the Nashville Metros, Cincinnati Riverhawks, El Paso of the A-League, or more recently with the San Diego Gauchos of the USL Pro Soccer League, they know quite a few things about this young man.

First and foremost, he is a competitor.

Wind him up and put him on the field and his job is to run his opponent into the turf. He’s one of the most tenacious and mentally tough players around, with a desire to accomplish his goals — even if it means working twice as hard as someone twice his size to hold more than his own on the field.

“I can’t disagree with any of that,” San Diego Sockers head coach Brian Quinn said after Monday morning’s team practice at the Sockers’ training facility in North Park.

Twelve years after graduating from Chula Vista High, Monroe is still on the pitch getting his kicks.

This is his third year with the Sockers, so far spent with the team’s practice squad. He’s hoping to crack the A-team’s lineup this season.

“Last year, he came out late. This year, it’s a little more structured. He’s been here from the start. He’s still here,” Quinn said in admiration of Monroe, who stands five feet, six inches tall.

Monroe finished his third season with the Gauchos last month as the team fell, 2-1, in the Western Division playoff round to the Utah Blitzz. Utah went on to defeat the Charlotte Eagles, 3-2, in a penalty kick tiebreaker Sept. 4 in the USL Pro Soccer League championship game.

Monroe appeared in 18 matches for the Gauchos, often as the team’s first man off the bench. As an outside midfielder, he logged the sixth most playing time among the 29 players roster on the team during the season.
In the Western Division playoff match, the Gauchos (9-10-2) rallied with a 65th minute goal by Herculez Gomez but could not notch the equalizer against the Blitzz (14-6-3).

“It was a close game. It definitely showed we were closer to the top than we thought we were,” Monroe said. “We battled all the way. It’s disappointing that we didn’t go farther than we did. But we still were a contender. We made it to the playoff game and battled. It was a good season.”

Players are still filtering into training camp as the Sockers prepare to launch their third season in the reborn MISL. The Sockers host the two-time defending league champion Baltimore Blast Oct. 9 at the Sports Arena in the team’s season opener.

Monroe has decided he wants to be a part of it.

“Why not?” he shrugged, sweat dripping off his face after practice. “It’s fun. It’s a way to stay involved in soccer.”

Monroe could likely write a best-selling book about his soccer odyssey — or, at least, a travel guide.
A three-year varsity performer during his prep days with the Spartans (he received what he referred to as the team’s “hustle award” as his highest high school recognition honors), Monroe, now 30, played at Southwestern College before becoming the University of Mary’s first three-sport athlete in soccer, baseball and football. From there, he earned a tryout with the Colorado Foxes of the A-League. He wound up in Colorado Springs, played a season there at the developmental level, before gaining a spot on the Colorado Rapids’ Major League Soccer reserve team.

Monroe had a chance to train regularly with the Rapids’ first team players — U.S. national team talent like Marcelo Balboa, Peter Vermes, Chris Henderson, Steve Trittschuh, Paul Bravo and Sweden’s top player, Anders Limpers.

“That was awesome. It was an unbelievable experience. To be able to train with those players every day was what set me in the right direction as a soccer player,” Monroe said.

However, the former Spartan quickly found out the rewards — or lack thereof at the financial end — of playing the game professionally in this country. Monroe kicked around the Division II level (in Cincinnati he once had the opportunity to play against former Hilltop High standout Chugger Adair, then with the San Diego Flash) before finding his way back home when the Gauchos started up operations.

“I had played all round the country. Soccer’s a tough gig here. But when the opportunity came up to come back here and play ... well, nothing is better than living in San Diego,” Monroe said. “Even though it is at a lower level, it is still competitive. It’s been a good fit.”

Monroe still has to work hard to keep a competitive edge against players who stand a head taller and weigh 50 pounds heavier. “For someone my size, getting up and getting back into play is the biggest thing. I might not be the most skilled player out there but I think I do a lot of things well. I think that helps me in the indoor game. Fitness is important. For guys who don’t have a lot of size, you got to take a lot of things to the table.”

In that regard, Monroe will likely always win the most inspirational award in any coach’s eye as the team's little big man.