Signed to Los Dos in 2016 from the LA Galaxy Academy, team veteran Ethan Zubak continued to grow as a leader of the team during the 2018 season. Over the campaign, he scored 11 goals and provided two assists. Zubak's performance earned him the No. 2 spot on the USL 20 Under 20 list, which ranks the best U-20 players in the league. Only his teammate, Efrain Alvarez, beat him out for first place.
How did you improve as a player this season?
“I think I progressed a long way. I think I became a better goal-scorer, a better leader for our team, and I matured a lot as a player, especially with a young team. It forced me to step out of my comfort zone and improve.”
What was your favorite memory of the season?
“I have a couple, but as a team I’d say my favorite moment was going up to Sacramento and beating them there because we smashed them in front of a huge crowd. The whole game we played well and it felt good to play as a team. Everyone was super focused and into the game. It was just a good trip overall. Individually, I really liked the game against Las Vegas because I scored four goals and that was a great feeling. Even though it didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, it was a season with a lot of fun moments.”
What are some of your expectations for the 2019 season?
“Obviously, we want to make steps in the right direction. Hopefully, first team in whatever aspect that might be. As a team, just to have a better year and keep progressing year by year. It was a new group last year, we progressed slightly this year, and hopefully it’s a bigger progression next year.”
What do you think the team should focus on improving in the offseason?
“I think it’s all about mentality. Since it is a young team, there’s not a lot of room for error. It’s that experience that most USL teams have that provide consistency. Now a lot of the players have gone through a couple of years and the team is getting older and now the maturity is coming, so I think the biggest thing is having the same consistent mentality every game and every practice."
