Joey Loreth (Victoria, B.C.) is just finishing up his first year at Oregon State. He played in nine games and made five starts at defender last fall, and bigger things are expected from him this fall. A longtime member of the Canadian National Team system, he has made several trips to join the Under-20 and Under-19 teams at various competitions this past year.
What was your first year at Oregon State like?
You’ve made several trips this year to play for Canada. Talk about what happened at the U-19 Francophone Games in Niger, Africa in November/December.
“It was unbelievable. We went to Morocco for the first week of training camp. Morocco is a great place. We had some exhibition games against some local men’s teams. We flew across the Sahara Desert into Niger. We played Cameroon, Niger, Ivory Coast, Congo and the Dominican Republic. It was great soccer and it was an experience and a half being in Niger and playing soccer against African countries.”
Your next trip was to Portugal in April for some exhibition games.
“We went to the Porto International Tournament with Norway, China and Portugal. We played a few games and got some good results. Great soccer and it was a lot of fun.”
Also, there was a three-game U-20 series against Brazil in Canada a couple of weeks ago. Canada won the first game and it was apparently the first time Canada has beaten Brazil, what most people would consider the best soccer nation in the world, at any level. What was that like?
“It was unbelievable. We couldn’t really believe it. It didn’t kick in until the next day that we had beaten Brazil. The Brazilians weren’t too happy and they came back in the next two games. We gave them a good battle but they scored goals late in both games to beat us.”
What is the Canadian team like?
“We’re really experienced national team. We have tons of guys in Europe playing for professional club teams, and a few guys that play for the men’s national team. We’re looking good.”
How much are you playing?
“Quite a lot, actually. In Africa I played every minute of every game. In Portugal I played almost every minute of every game. Against Brazil I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, but still got some time, and that was good.”
Canada is hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup next summer. Are you on target to be part of that team? What would that mean to you?
“Hopefully I’ll be on that team. But the team hasn’t been finalized yet and they’re still switching guys in and out. Hopefully I’ll stay with it. Even if I’m not a starter on that team, because it’ll be a really good team, just to be a part of it would be awesome. I love the guys and I’ve known them for so long, because we’ve all played together for a few years now. It’s so fun when we travel. It’s going to be big for Canadian soccer. The Americans hosted the 1994 World Cup and now things are booming, and hopefully it will do the same for Canada.”
What’s it like to put on a uniform and represent your country?
“The first time I looked down and saw the Canada symbol on my shirt I got goosebumps. I couldn’t believe it. And then the anthem came on. Every single time it’s amazing. Especially when you’re playing in Canada and the fans are screaming and yelling for you. My first time was when I was 16 and we were in Europe and played Austria and Slovakia. I was a little nervous being away from home for the first time but it was fun.”
How often have you served as captain?
“When I was on the U-17 team, I captained the team when we played the U.S. We actually beat the Americans once and they beat us once.”
What’s been the highlight of playing for Canada?
“Beating Brazil, I think. That was huge. But just playing internationals against other countries and playing for your country, every game is amazing.”
You’re from British Columbia, but Toronto will be the first Canadian city to get an MLS team. Is that a future goal, or do you want to play overseas, or what do you hope to do?
“I want to keep playing soccer, but I also want to be a doctor when I’m older. If soccer can keep going, and someone wants me to play, then for sure I’ll do that. But I need to get my education. I’d love to keep playing soccer, but I can’t count on that forever. I’d like to be an orthopedic surgeon. That’s my goal for when I’m older.”
Last season with the Beavers, you played in about half the games, and started five. Describe what your first season here was like.
“Honestly, it took me a while to get used to it because it’s so fast. Coming from Canada, there’s not the same kind of pressure and intensity. It took me a while to get used to it. I started getting the hang of things and was playing well. Then I hurt my quad and it took me a while to get back into it. It was a good learning experience, the first year. I learned so many things that will help me improve for next year. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, but I still learned a lot.”
What are your expectations for yourself coming back this fall as a sophomore? A couple of starting positions opened up on defense and you’re in the running for one of those.
“I’ll keep working at it and hopefully I’ll get a spot. We’re a really young team. I think we’re going to do some damage the next couple of years.”
The team was disappointed to not make the NCAA Tournament last year. Will that be a motivating factor this fall?
“Yeah, especially for the freshmen. As it got closer, we thought we were going to make it. We thought we were in, but when we didn’t make it, all the freshmen saw what we needed to do to make it next year. I think we have a good shot if we play well together because we have a lot of talent.”
Why did you choose to come to Oregon State?
“I wanted to come to the States to play soccer because you watch it on TV and athletics is huge here. I e-mailed some schools, mostly ones that were nearby like the Pac-10, because it’s a great conference, and they were closer to home. I got lucky and Dana Taylor phoned me back and told me what was going on here. It sounded perfect so I came down and checked it out and loved it. It’s not too much different from British Columbia, same kind of weather and same kind of atmosphere.”
What will you be doing this summer?
“There’s another national team trip in a few weeks to play the U.S. a couple of times. Hopefully I’ll get asked on that. I’ll be playing at home with a local Victoria United men’s select team. It’s a really good league and will help to prepare me for next fall.”
