more satisfying than scoring
a goal, and only goalkeepers
understand where I’m coming
from. That’s what drew me to
becoming a keeper; I was nev-
er afraid of getting dirty and
once I made my first save I was
hooked.”
He had the opportunity to
make a lot of saves for a Timon
team that has struggled over
the past couple of seasons on
the pitch. Never known as a
soccer school, Timon has had
good teams in the past.
They have always been able
to compete with the bigger
schools like Canisius, St. Joe’s
and St. Frannies. The last cou-
ple of years, however, that
hasn’t been the case. The Ti-
gers have been outclassed by
their rivals and it showed.
A new dedication to the
sport needed to take place.
The Tigers were able to bring
in one of their own in former
player Zak Persichini. He has
brought a belief to a team that
was lacking it over the years.
While
Persichini
has
brought that belief, Gall has
brought that steady play be-
tween the pipes that the Tigers
were desperately needing. The
teams knows if they make a
mistake that Gall will be there
to make the key save when
called upon. While they have
hit a rough patch during the
season, losing four straight as
of this writing, the games have
been close. Gall has been big
in those games - making save
after save.
“Obviously when people
think of Timon athletics one
of the last sports they think
about is soccer. I went to try-
out for the varsity team fresh-
man year and I instantly fell in
love with the environment,”
stated Gall. “I worked hard
to make the team and when
I did I was instantly accept-
ed. I have been playing for
Timon soccer ever since; over
the years the team has never
been the most skilled team;
but the thing that we did have
was heart and determination
to play for one another. It has
been the best time of my life
playing with such great guys
for Timon soccer.”
For someone who is looking
to play college at the next level
it could be tough playing high
school soccer. Timon is com-
petitive, but they are not yet
back to where they can chal-
lenge the likes of St. Joe’s and
Canisius.
If a person would just go off
the stats of Gall it might not
look that impressive Against
some of the bigger teams,
Timon could lose 3-0 or 4-0.
That hurts the goal against
for a keeper. But, scouts need
to look deer that just the final
score.
They need to look at the type
of player that Gall is. Gall is
the ultimate team player, and
competitor. He isn’t the type
of player that will throw his
teammates under the bus.
There are games he will face
a lot of shots and come up big
with a lot of saves.
Coaches need to be able to
look past the score line and
see the type of keeper he is.
Gall could easily step in to any
Division II or III team and help
them win. That is the type of
competitor this young man is.
“It has been very difficult
to say the least. One of my
dreams is to play in college
and sometimes it can be hard
at times if the team faces some
quality teams. Occasionally
we will have our downs and
have 4+ goals scored against
us, which doesn’t look great
from a college coaches point
of view,” stated Gall. “But
what I always say is the score
doesn’t reflect exactly how
a team plays, every game we
will play our hearts out and
give 100 percent effort toward
the game; which is one thing a
college coach loves to see.”
Another thing coaches like
to see is if the player they are
recruiting loves the game.
There are players who play
soccer and there are soccer
players. Gall is a soccer player.
He is a student of the game. He
watches the game all the time.
He likes to pick up different
things from different players.
His favorite keeper to watch
is Joe Hart. Hart is a lightening
rod sometimes for some of the
plays he makes on the pitch.
But, he is still a very good
keeper. He was part of past
World Cup teams for England
- so he must be doing some-
thing right in his career.
“Someone I try to model my
game after is Joe Hart. The
England goalkeeper is by far
my favorite goalkeeper. I try
to emulate my game to his; I
will always be watching his
highlights trying to see what
he does so I can improve in my
own game. My favorite quote
from Joe Hart would proba-
bly be “the harder you go after
OCTOBER 19, 2018 | SportsUnion
a ball, the less likely you get
hurt”. I follow this because be-
ing a smaller goalkeeper I tend
to find myself playing bigger
stronger guys but if I go after
a ball just as hard I find myself
winning those battles,” stated
Gall. “I would consider myself
a student of the game, I always
watch the English Premier
league and La Liga to learn
from the best of the best. I also
always find myself watching
the other teams goalkeepers
when playing at games be-
cause a lot of time I can learn
either what to do or what not
to do. I’m always open to mak-
ing myself a better player.”
Making himself a better
player is being ability to work
on all aspects of the game.
Gall is talented keeper, but
that hasn’t stopped him from
still trying to work on things
that he is good at. He has a
11
very high soccer IQ, and still
works on it to this day.
His understanding of the
game allows him to be in the
right position at the right
time. It helps him make up for
the lack of height that is need-
ed to play the position.
“If I had to scout myself I
would say my strengths would
definitely be my soccer IQ,
athleticism, technique, abili-
ty to dive and being a leader,”
stated Gall. “Although I feel
strong about those attributes
what I would say I still need to
work on might be my ability to
stay focused mid game, kick-
ing consistent and playing the
ball with my feet.”
Ryan Gall and Bishop Timon
soccer have something in
common. They are both just in
the beginning stages of being
something great.