FULLERTON, Calif. -- Mirin Fader of the Orange County Register talked with Cal State Fullerton men's soccer midfielder Ronaldo Pineda about his journey to becoming a Titan.
Read and excerpt from the story below and click on the link to read the full story on the OC Register's website.
By Mirin Fader | Full Story
Love. Sacrifice. Loyalty. The three tattoos on Ronaldo Pineda's left forearm catch the sun.
Taking off one of his cleats, the 5-foot-11 sophomore midfielder who runs opponents ragged hops toward the bleachers with a bandage over his toe.
Bloody blisters. No biggie.
"This is heaven," said Pineda, pointing to Cal State Fullerton's practice field.
Two days earlier, the pre-season All-Big West Conference selection had five shots against No. 16 UCLA, though the two-time defending Big-West champion Titans (1-3) fell, 1-0, in overtime.
"He's relentless," Titan coach George Kuntz said. "He has that intangible bite that you look for, that toughness."
There is not a play Pineda will neglect or a teammate he won't protect, as he learned love, sacrifice and loyalty from his mother — the inspiration behind the tattoos.
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