SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (May 10, 2023) - When it comes to the pursuit of greatness, senior goalkeeper Leroy Zeller stands tall in the face of challenge.
The 2022 Big West Co-Goalkeeper of the Year was a huge asset during the past season. Zeller helped lead his team to the Big West Championship match. Zeller, displaying unrelenting ambition to conquer his final upcoming season, the star goalkeeper is on the cusp of a new chapter. He is hoping to finish out his college career at the top of his game, and with that Zeller is gaining momentum on his mission toward the big leagues.
The upcoming fifth-year goalie, Leroy Zeller, said "I'm just playing to be the best I can be." This motive drives his limitless perseverance to protect the net, making the Gaucho a force to be reckoned with when he has a "goal" in mind.
Soccer from the Start
The goalkeeper's introduction to soccer began in the small village of Sinzenich, Germany, a town whose culture revolved around soccer. At the age of four, Zeller immersed himself in this environment. Zeller's fond recollection of representing his hometown reveals that his competitive nature was instigated by his local pride. "Everybody young played for the village soccer team to compete against the other villages," said Zeller. His hometown's support system was strong. During the developmental years, Zeller's father and grandfather voiced their encouragement during the everyday drive to and from practice.
Aside from the inspiration of his family, sports heroes bolstered Zeller's incredible work ethic. Starting as a field player, Zeller looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo, appreciating the Real Madrid star's mental toughness in dedicating himself to the achievement of his full potential. At the age of 12, Zeller's role models transitioned alongside his position change. As Zeller moved from the field to the net, he began to look up to German goalkeeper icon, Oliver Kahn. Kahn was an expert at defending the goal.
From Germany to California
In 2019, Zeller was presented with the choice to either play soccer for Barnsley Football Club in England or travel to the US to hone his skills and pursue his studies. Zeller took a shot at academia, moving to the United States to play and study at Newberry College in South Carolina. With his international student status, Zeller was ready to bring his skill to an entirely new environment.
Before long, Leroy's star power exceeded the capacity that Newberry could offer. An offer from UC Santa Barbara ignited a vision of opportunity. Santa Barbara held the capabilities to foster Zeller's star power. In 2021, the goalkeeper swapped his jersey to become a Gaucho. Zeller describes UC Santa Barbara as "the best soccer setting you can get in the States [in terms of] the fans, facility, and environment, especially the beach and mountains."
Beyond soccer, the senior global studies major possesses the determination to excel in multiple areas. With valuable guidance from teachers, advisors, and coaches, Zeller emphasizes "being a student before an athlete." He maintains that his performance on the soccer pitch is predicated on his success in the classroom.
Wearing No. 1
Zeller regularly dominates the cage and sets records in the process. In his two seasons playing for the Gauchos, the goalie spearheaded his team's success by leading the conference in the most games played and the highest number of shutouts. In 2021, Zeller helped the team bring home the Big West Championship for the first time in seven years. In 2022, the goalkeeper's skill only grew throughout the season as he once again aided his team's journey to The Big West Championship match. Throughout the season, The Gauchos boasted a 0.99 goals against average, a clear product of Zeller's relentless defensive efficiency. Starting in all 20 games, the goalkeeper recorded an impressive save percentage of .778 and led the conference with seven shutouts. With just ten minutes to go, Zeller was just shy of breaking UCSB's all-time record of most minutes played for a goalkeeper. As it stands now, Zeller looks towards the upcoming 2023 season to conquer the feat.
Zeller's capabilities are respected and recognized by fans and The Big West, alike. In 2021, he was named Second Team All-Big West. Building on top of his success, the goalkeeper earned the title of 2022 Big West Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. However, Zeller expresses, "I am not playing to get an award. I am playing to be the best I can be." The Gaucho's awards do not serve as an indication of a conquered skill but as a motivator to transcend his achievement. He considers the recognition as hardly personal; his awards represent his entire team and school.
Mental over Physical
The 6-foot-5-inch keeper's impressive size, mixed with his extraordinary agility would justify him as an intimidation to his opponents, Zeller's mentality is what makes him a true killer in the cage.
From one shutout to the next, Zeller does not think about his records. "I see every game as its own competition. I go into every game with the same mentality, same mindset, and same preparation, doing this every day, game to game," Zeller said. While he considers his strengths and weaknesses after every game, the athlete keeps the objective simple while in the net. With skill ingrained through practice, Zeller has one thing on his mind: "Keep the ball out of the net."
This Gaucho's grit is unwavering in the offseason. Zeller expresses, "I am doing the things I need to do to be best prepared for the fall and to stay sharp." This summer, Zeller plans to concentrate on his return to Asheville City Soccer Club in North Carolina. The club is a member of the USL League Two, the highest level of off-season competition for collegiate soccer players.
Zeller aims to conquer the goals he sets out before himself. Closing out his season at the top of his game is just the beginning of his triumphs. Following graduation, Zeller looks towards Major League Soccer (MLS) to break into professional soccer.
With a goal in mind, Leroy Zeller exhibits persistent dedication toward expanding his seemingly insurmountable talent.
Written by UC Santa Barbara Athletic Communications Writing Intern Sydney Goldflam.
