You may recall that Eric started the season in the #2 position behind Dan Benton, who ultimately went to the Earthquakes after three matches with the Seals. 

In the seven games Conner has started this season for the Seals, he has 32 saves*, and 4 shutouts.  Conner is now sporting a .857 GAA after 7 games with the Seals. 

A record that any goalie would be pretty proud of, and frankly, is deserving of a look from the MLS as well.  Of course, we hope that will be at the end of the season!

It hasn’t been an easy road.

Eric Conner was born in Laguna Beach, California and lived in South Orange County for his whole life.  He started playing soccer when he was 9 and, in his words, “due lack of fitness and "baby fat," was pretty much a goalkeeper from the beginning.” 

Conner played club soccer with the Mission Viejo Pateadores and was selected for the ODP State and Regional teams.  He attended Mission Viejo High School and unfortunately was one of only three club players on the team.  “We were a very poor program, but it did give me a lot of work to do, so that was good for me,” says Conner.  Despite a poor program, Conner was awarded league MVP, and also the team's MVP each of the three seasons he played on Varsity.  
 
After high school Conner was a part of the #1 recruiting class in the nation in 2004 going into UCLA.  “This was a great honor for me to attend the "school of my dreams" ever since I saw Matt Reis in the 1997 College Cup Final.”  The only difficulty was that the coach who recruited his class, Tom Fitzgerald, took up another coaching position 6 months before his class came in.  The situation did not work out for Conner as well as he had hoped, and after two years he made the very difficult decision to transfer. 

“I had heard about the recent success at USF and eventually the situation worked out well for them to bring me in” states Conner.  Unfortunately, his first year at USF he was behind a Dons mainstay an outstanding keeper, Geremy Uhl. However, in his second year (last season) Conner was able to play a lot.  “Although we did not have the season we expected, individually I was able to get great experience and back into a ‘game rhythm’ that I had missed for three years” he added.  Conner collected 54 saves in the San Francisco goal during conference play to lead the WCC.
 
Last summer Conner decided to stay in San Francisco and play for the Seals.  Once again, he found himself in an awkward position – one in which many would have given up and quit.

“Due to my lack of experience in the Bay Area and my late contact with Tom Simpson, I found myself in a fourth string position.”   Fortunately, Conner would constantly attend practices and do everything he could to earn his position.  And once he got that chance, he never looked back.  “We had a fairly convincing win and I fit in well with the team” he added.  Tom Simpson, head coach for the Seals put it another way; “He played so well in there, nobody could take the spot away.  He did fantastic.  I simply could not believe he had spent so much time on the bench in college.”

The fact is, from then on out Conner played every minute of the season.  “Last summer was a great summer for me because I was happy with the form I was in, and at the same time was able to meet many great friends through my teammates and coaches.  I had such a great experience with the Seals last year I decided that I wanted to play with them again this season.”  So far, this season has been even greater than the last. 

The team last season had terrific talent, and did extremely well without much striking power.  This season, Conner feels is even stronger.  “With respect to the roster from last season, we have even stronger players this year and much more depth.  It has obviously been noticeable in our results and placement in the standings.  My goal is for us to finish in the top two spots and make it to the playoffs.  My individual goal is to be the top goalkeeper in the league, especially with my GAA.” 

Conner is currently (as of July 6, 2008) 6th in goals against, 10th in shutouts, and tied at 12th in GAA for the PDL.

Conner will be finished with his college eligibility after the fall and will be graduating with a degree in Sociology.  After school he wants to pursue playing soccer wherever he can.  “Ultimately I  would love to play overseas and will do what I can to become a professional.”
 
Says Conner, “I attribute my success, on and off the field, to the constant support from my parents with anything I do.”