Ralston Breakthrough
Will Kuhns
August 12, 2003
Soccer America
For the second time in his career, midfielder Steve Ralston is raising his profile. One goal and three assists in three Gold Cup games moved him up the U.S. depth chart.
ART OF CROSSING. Over the course of seven and a half MLS seasons, Ralston's hallmark has been his crossing ability, although he claims it has improved dramatically since moving to New England, where he plays a more strictly wide position than he did with Tampa Bay. He has led MLS in assists in two different seasons and ranks fourth all-time in that department.
During the Gold Cup, McBride couldn't stop raving about Ralston and his counterpart on the left, Eddie Lewis. McBride said that Ralston's quick first step allows him to create just enough space to get crosses off.
"The defender probably thinks he has the angle cut, but Steve's still able to get a ball in behind him or in front of him," McBride said. "As soon as (Ralston) takes that first step, you know the ball is coming on the next step. A lot of times you get guys who beat a player and you make a run, then they cut or touch it again and you're just like, aargh!"
Ralston repeatedly tried to steer the credit back to McBride, but his Revolution strike partner, Taylor Twellman, insisted that Ralston is a forward's dream.
"It's never a case where you're in too early and if you are, it's your fault," Twellman said. "Another big part for me is that it's a ball that you can handle. A lot of guys can shoot a ball across the box, but what are you going to do with it?"
Twellman remembers being a wide-eyed 13-year-old in St. Louis the day he met Ralston, fresh off winning the league's inaugural Rookie of the Year award in 1996. Upon Twellman's arrival in New England, the chemistry between the two began almost immediately and extends off the field - Ralston will be a groomsman in Twellman's wedding this December. But the in-game understanding is obvious.
"He jokes around -- when he looks up, he sees The Big Head," said Twellman, referring to his own large-ish noggin. "When he sees The Big Head, he reads where I'm going."
Yet crossing wasn't Ralston's thing until he got to MLS, where he "would have played goalie to get on a team." His big year at FIU came while he was playing center midfield.
Revolution assistant coach John Murphy noted that an often overlooked part of Ralston's game is his feistiness, which contrasts his low-key personality. Lewis agreed.
"Stevie is the perfect example of somebody who is one guy off the field and on the field he's a completely different person," Lewis said. "He's usually a fairly passive, relaxed kind of guy, but on the field he can be a dirty little player. . . . He's not always the one to kick first, but he'll get after you if it's an even game."
Lewis recalled . . .
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