By Anthony Rifilato
His mother, Ana Trujillo, a native of Mexico, is a huge fan, and whenever a World Cup match or major game was broadcast, her enthusiasm for her country's team was infectious.
"I always had an affinity for the Mexican national team," said Cepero, who attends the University of Pennsylvania, where he is a star goalie for the Quakers. "My mom is so passionate about soccer that it was exciting to watch. When we watched the World Cup this past summer, my mother and I went crazy."
Though Cepero has attracted a lot of attention for his performance at Penn, the 21-year-old Baldwin High School graduate has always dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player, hoping to someday follow in the footsteps of greats such as Jorge Campos and Claudio Reyna. "He always said that he wanted to play pro," said his mother. "That's what he always wanted to do."
It's a dream that is about to become true. Last month, Cepero was drafted by the New York Red Bulls, a Major League Soccer franchise. He said he will aim for a prominent spot on the team, alongside Reyna and the Bulls' renowned coaching staff. Cepero is the second Penn player coached by Rudy Fuller to be drafted by the MLS, and was one of three players selected by the Red Bulls in the fourth round of the league's supplemental draft in January.
"We are all very happy for Danny," said Fuller. "He has worked extremely hard for this opportunity, and I'm confident that he is ready for it."
Cepero started playing soccer in first grade, and his mother recalled how he became a goalie by accident. "He became goalie in the third grade," she said. "He used to be a forward, but once he tried being a goalie, he said he kind of liked it. For him, it was a real challenge."
Cepero not only played in school, but for local clubs, including the Oceanside United Soccer Club. But it was at Baldwin High School where people really took notice of him. He excelled not only on the field - and on the basketball court - but academically as well, though he had a humble disposition. As a captain of the varsity soccer team, he helped lead the Bruins to conference titles in his junior and senior years.
"We won the conference [in 2002], and it had been a long time since Baldwin soccer achieved that," Cepero said. "The real fun started during junior year. We had a great team, and we all wanted to do well. The chemistry was very strong."
In the winter, Cepero led the basketball team in steals, according to Darius Burton, the varsity basketball coach and a one-time soccer star himself. "Danny was the best point guard I've had in the program since I've been around," Burton said. "He was a coach on the floor and he led by example."
After graduating in 2003, Cepero chose Penn for its strong team - and the chance at an Ivy League education. While soccer was foremost on his mind, he became a history major. "I didn't want to pick something like pre-law or pre-med and not really like it," he said. "More than anything, I wanted to enjoy the classes."
Once at school, however, Cepero said, he doubted that he would get any playing time initially, since the Quakers had a solid lineup and an outstanding goalie, Matt Haefner. Cepero had never attended soccer camps, and he knew he would have to work even harder prove himself as an unknown. "I kind of pushed my way into my coach's office to get into the preseason," he recalled.
But when he was given the chance to play, Cepero quickly demonstrated his ability. "Danny came in and had a great opportunity to play the first year," his mother said. "From then on, that was it. He played three games the first year, and when Haefner graduated, Danny took over."
Once on the field, the 6-foot-2 Cepero broke records and helped lead his team to numerous wins. He was a unanimous All-Ivy first team selection this season as well as the team's captain, helping Penn to a 9-4-2 record and posting an 0.76 goals-against average and eight shutouts. He was named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region third team - a first for a Penn goalkeeper.
Cepero was also an All-Ivy honoree, recognition reserved for student athletes with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher. "He was able to keep that balance all the time, and he was able to do well in school," said Danny's father, Robert. "In sports, sometimes kids can't concentrate, but he did great. If you didn't do well in class ... you couldn't play. He really concentrated on doing well in school and in sports at the same time. Whatever he sets his mind to, he does, and I respect him for that."
With 23 career shutouts, Cepero is Penn's all-time leader. "It's a cool record to own in my view," he said. "Once I got that, it was a monkey off my back. But it's not just me. It's the other guys on the team playing well together and keeping everything organized."
For Burton, Cepero's decision to compete at Penn is a reflection of his academic and athletic interests. "Academically, you can't get better than Penn," Burton said. "As someone who has a background in soccer, I knew he was a leader and that he would play at a higher level."
"He leaves us as arguably the best goalkeeper ever to play for Penn," said Fuller. "His leadership, maturity and playing ability were one of the key reasons for our team's success the past few seasons."
Cepero decided to try out for the MLS last year. He attended several tryouts around the country, including one for D.C. United. It was the Red Bulls, however, who gave him the nod.
The team - originally the MetroStars - is coached by Bruce Arena, a Franklin Square native who led the U.S. national team from 1998 until last year, and Cepero said he is looking forward to playing under such a renowned coach. "It's an honor, and really exciting," he said. "Being a player under him and playing with some of the names they have on their roster should be mind-blowing."
Cepero will work with goal-keeping coach Des McAleenan, who, in six years with the team, has trained four U.S. national team goalkeepers, including Tony Meola and Tim Howard.
Most recently, the team made headlines when it added Reyna - one of Cepero's heroes, and the former captain of the U.S. national team - to its roster. "It's awesome," said Cepero. "I just hope to learn how they play and carry themselves. To just absorb some of their professionalism is a big treat."
He had some mixed feelings about putting his college education on hold, he said, but ultimately he decided that joining the Red Bulls was an opportunity that he simply could not pass up. "My friends and family have been really supportive in pushing me to do this," Cepero said. "I could always go back to school, but not necessarily to a pro soccer team. I couldn't go back to class knowing someone else was taking my spot."
As he did when he first went to Penn, Cepero said, he now has to work hard to prove himself yet again, since a fourth-round draft pick isn't exactly guaranteed playing time - not at first, anyway. "In my mind, I'm not fully on the team, so I won't become complacent," Cepero said. "I think first and foremost, I'd like to secure a roster spot."
Burton said he wouldn't be surprised if Cepero clinched some game time early on. "He was a little worried going into college, too, but he got on the field," Burton said. "Once they see his work ethic, speed and dedication, he'll be in there. Of all the people to be selected, he deserves it."
Cepero was scheduled to head to Giants Stadium on Feb. 2, where the team begins training, and will spend two weeks training in Florida as well. He will travel with the Red Bulls during the regular season, which begins in April. He said he would consider a career outside the U.S. someday, perhaps in Europe. If that doesn't pan out, he may become a teacher. But for now, he is focused on doing his best with his new team.
"I hope to play professionally for a good while," he said. "I plan on working hard and taking a lot of it in. I'm looking to make a good impression on this team."
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