[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 17 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H956-H957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SANTA BARBARA MEN'S 
                    SOCCER TEAM, 2006 NCAA CHAMPIONS

  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 70) congratulating the University of California 
at Santa Barbara men's soccer team, the 2006 National Collegiate 
Athletic Association Champions, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 70

       Whereas the University of California at Santa Barbara 
     (UCSB) Gauchos claimed the 2006 NCAA Championship, 2-1, over 
     the University of California at Los Angeles Bruins at Robert 
     R. Hermann Stadium at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, 
     Missouri, on December 3, 2006;
       Whereas the UCSB Gauchos, in their 2006 season, had an 
     overall record of 17-7-1, and a perfect 6-0 mark in the 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament; 
     Whereas the UCSB Gauchos won a Division 1 title for the 
     second time ever in school history and first time ever in 
     men's soccer;
       Whereas the UCSB Gauchos have reached the NCAA finals twice 
     in the past three years;
       Whereas Nick Perera was named the tournament's offensive 
     Most Outstanding Player and Andy Iro was named the defensive 
     Most Outstanding Player; and
       Whereas the 2006 NCAA championship soccer team members are 
     Kyle Reynish; Jeff Murphy; David Walker; Andy Iro; Jon Curry; 
     Greg Curry; Bryan Byrne; Paul Kierstead; Tino Nunez; Tyler 
     Rosenlund; Alfonso Motagalvan; Eric Frimpong; Chris Pontius; 
     Nick Perera; Eric Avila; Evan Patterson; Brennan Tennelle; 
     Kyle Kaveny; Andrew Proctor; Bongomin Otii; Bryant Rueckner; 
     Tony Chinakwe; Jason Badger; Jordan Kaplan; Drew Gleason; 
     C.J. Cintas; and Guillermo Jalomo: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     the University of California at Santa Barbara men's soccer 
     team, the Gauchos, and Coaches Tim Vom Steeg, Greg Wilson, 
     Erick Foss, and Neil Jones on an out- standing championship 
     season, a season that set the Gauchos among the elite in 
     collegiate soccer.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 70 in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University 
of California at Santa Barbara men's soccer team on their 2006 National 
Collegiate Athletic Association championship.
  After a tough, hard-fought game, the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara 
claimed the 2006 NCAA championship by a score of 2-1.
  I would also like to congratulate the UCLA Bruins, the opposing team 
in the final game, on a well-played season. The Bruins had a season 
record of 14-6-4 and had three players named to the NCAA All-Tournament 
team.
  Although the UC Santa Barbara men's soccer program appeared in the 
championship match twice in the last 3 years, this is the school's 
first men's soccer title and the university's second Division I title 
in athletics.
  They accomplished many successes this year beyond the NCAA 
championship. The men's soccer team also won the 2006 Big West regular 
season championship and had a record of 17-7-1. The team was led to 
victory by head coach Tim Vom Steeg, assistant coach Greg Wilson, 
assistant coach Neil Jones, and goalkeeper coach Erick Foss. Also 
assisting the team was the UC Santa Barbara director of athletics, Gary 
Cunningham.
  Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate the student athletes, coaches, and 
the University of California at Santa Barbara on their 2006 men's 
soccer team's achievement.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such times as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 70. This 
resolution recognizes the outstanding 2006 record of the University of 
California at Santa Barbara men's soccer team as well as their triumph 
in winning the university's first-ever national title in soccer and 
only the second in any other sport.
  With a 2-1 victory over the University of California at Los Angeles 
at the 2006 NCAA men's College Cup, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos ended 
the season with a 17-7-1 record.
  The two rivals, whose schools are separated by less than 100 miles, 
played hard despite game time temperatures of 24 degrees and a 
windchill of 11. Still, in a testament to their strength and senior 
leadership, the Gauchos overcame the weather, as well as a 7-6 mid-
season record, to become only the second unseeded team since 2000 to 
win the national title.
  Shortly after the season ended and for the second time in 3 years, UC 
Santa Barbara head coach Tim Vom Steeg earned the most prestigious 
honor a Division I coach can receive when he was named national Coach 
of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. 
According to College Sports Television, ``in his eight seasons at the 
helm of UCSB, Vom Steeg has transformed a program that went 2-17-2 
overall in the year prior to his arrival to a Division I power and 
reigning national champions.''
  In the first 33 years of the program's existence, Santa Barbara had 
never reached the NCAA tournament but has now made five straight post-
season appearances under Vom Steeg's guidance, including two trips to 
the College Cup.
  I extend my congratulations to head coach Tim Vom Steeg and all the 
hardworking players, the fans, and to the University of California at 
Santa Barbara. I am happy to join my good friends and colleagues, 
Representatives Capps and Gallegly, in honoring this exceptional team 
and all of its accomplishments and wish all involved continued success.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to support this 
Revolution congratulating the University of California, Santa Barbara 
men's soccer team for winning the NCAA Division I National 
Championship.
  Along with my colleague Elton Gallegly, I am thrilled to have this 
opportunity to congratulate every player, coach, alumnus, faculty 
member and supporter of UCSB.
  On December 3, 2006, the UCSB Gauchos captured the National 
Championship by scoring two goals against the University of California, 
Los Angeles. This is UCSB's second national title in school history.
  While all the gauchos played their hearts out, I'd like to 
acknowledge two stand-out performances.
  Sophomore Nick Perera scored a goal and assisted on Eric Avila's 
game-winner on his way to earning All-College Cup Most Outstanding 
Offensive Player of the Tournament honors.

[[Page H957]]

  Junior Andy Iro, despite playing through an injury, helped keep UCLA 
at bay and was named the All-College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive 
Player.
  While the beginning UCSB's season was plagued by inconsistent play, 
the Gauchos fought to recover, winning 10 of their last 11 games, 
including 6 straight in the tournament.
  Coach Tim Vom Steeg, a UCSB alum, and his staff, Greg Wilson, Neil 
Jones, and Erick Foss, deserve tremendous praise not only for their 
impressive leadership in the 2006 season but also for leading the 
dominating Gauchos to their second NCAA National Championship game in 3 
years.
  Coach Vom Steeg's colleagues were so impressed with his coaching 
abilities that they named him the National Soccer Coaches Association 
of America National Coach of the Year, the most prestigious award that 
a Division I soccer coach can receive, for the second time.
  Mr. Speaker, while the men's soccer team is a great example of the 
excellence the University produces, there is much more to celebrate.
  As many of you know, my husband Walter was a professor of Religious 
Studies for more than 30 years at UCSB.
  Through his experiences as a professor, and my own as a graduate, I 
have watched the university rightfully gain national attention.
  The university currently has five Nobel Laureates on faculty and was 
recently ranked in the top 15 best public schools in the Nation by U.S. 
News & World Report.
  And with a breathtakingly beautiful campus, it's no wonder that the 
men's soccer team and the university can attract such notable talent 
from all over the world.
  If any of my colleagues ever find themselves on California's Central 
Coast, I encourage you to stop by this beautiful campus and see for 
yourself all that it has to offer.
  And of course, don't forget to catch a soccer game at Harder Stadium.
  I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Go Gauchos.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 70, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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