Rivera worth second look at Seattle University

It would be easy for Santa Maria Rivera to become a cliché to the casual observer.

The poor, fatherless kid who moved here from Mexico. The one who parlayed soccer skills into a scholarship at Seattle University, making him the first in his family to go to college.

But if you look again, you'll see so much more.

You'll see a college student without pretension, one who likes making his teammates laugh. One who loves his family, embraces his religion and whose big smile is only overshadowed by his enormous hair.

And you'll also see one of the biggest reasons behind Seattle U.'s success this year. On Friday, the top-ranked Redhawks (20-0-1) will take on Dowling College in the NCAA Division II men's soccer tournament semifinals in Wichita Falls, Texas.

"I'm proud of my past and where I came from, and my teammates can appreciate the fact that I come from a different background," said Rivera, who came to Seattle U. two seasons ago after playing for Wenatchee Valley College. "But in a lot of ways I'm a lot like the rest of these guys. I'm always trying to be a joker and make people laugh."

Rivera, a redshirt junior, has taken on a new position as sweeper this season. On the field, he takes control of the defense, barking orders to his teammates.

While a solid defender, Rivera still shows flashes of his former life as a midfielder, embarrassing forwards with his footwork.

"He went from being an outside midfielder to being a sweeper," said Redhawks coach Peter Fewing. "That's a big transition, but he's been one of our best and most consistent players this year."

With Rivera at his new position, the Redhawks have posted the top goals-against defense in D-II and have 15 shutouts. And since forging a 1-1 tie with UC San Diego on Sept. 17, Seattle U. has won 13 straight games, surrendering only one goal along the way.

Off the field, Rivera is soft-spoken and exhibits manners that are often viewed by his generation as a relic from the past.

"He's a cool guy, super respectful," said goalkeeper Jeremiah Doyle. "He's been raised very well.

"It's always sir, ma'am, 'Yes, coach,' 'No, coach.' You just don't see that too often anymore. You can tell that he was raised right."

Rivera and his three siblings were raised by mother Maria, who moved her family from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico, to Yakima when Rivera was 7.

"Being a single mom, she had to sacrifice a lot to take care of us," said Rivera, 22. "She's an amazing woman. I couldn't ask for a better mom.

"It was a drastic change (the move to Yakima). ... I had a very tough childhood. Growing up in Mexico, I didn't have a lot of the things I have now. I know it sounds cliché, but with my dad not around, she was the mom and the dad at the same time."

Rivera's smile grows the biggest when he talks about his family — including sisters Maria, 18, and Elizabeth, 5, and 11-year-old brother Alonzo.

" (Alonzo) thinks the greatest thing that ever happened to him is having me as a brother," Rivera said. "It's pretty cool. I love music and soccer, but most of all I love being with my family. My family is everything to me."

Also important to Rivera is his Catholic upbringing. Before kickoff of every game, he kneels down on the field and says a quick prayer before the opening whistle.

"It's a tradition that I do," said Rivera. "It's part of being Catholic. I'm proud of who I am and where I come from."

Rivera is on track to graduate with a history degree.

"It's something that I'm very proud of and my family is very proud of," said Rivera. "Hopefully, I'll be the one who opens that door for the rest of my family.

"I want to teach. I want to move to a place where I can influence my people. A place where there's a lot of immigrant workers that I can help with the language barrier."