Monterey Bay F.C. rookies navigate transition to professional soccer

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) - In year three, Monterey Bay's roster boasts a variety of new talent including five rookies. Anthony Orendain, Pierce Gallaway, Michael Gonzalez, Ryan Dieter, and Miguel Guerrero each inked their first professional contracts this season.

"Coming from college to the professional level is never easy," Gallaway said. "Especially making that jump in terms of quality and the standard of the play."

As players navigate the transition to professional soccer, veterans on the team have helped make the process easier.

"Obviously you are going to make mistakes," Gonzalez said. "But they demand the highest from you, so when you make a mistake, they don't want you to make a second."

All that hard work at training culminated in their USL Championship debuts, but with that milestone under their belts, Monterey Bay's rookies are only focused on getting better.

"Pave your way and just keep working and working," Guerrero said. "You can definitely be here."

Sports Director Maxwell Glenn had a chance to sit down with each rookie and talk about their journey to the professional level.