Benjamin Garcia is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sandra Day O'Connor for AZPreps

The offer came in an email. Tyler Kirberg thought he was dreaming.

“I almost didn’t believe the email was real at first, but then after I called them. I was so excited I was literally shaking,” the Sandra day O’Connor senior said.

Welcome to UCLA.

Kirberg signed officially last week and cannot wait to start in the fall.

“As soon as I get on campus, I’m working to get that starting job,” Kirberg said.

Although in his first year in high school soccer, the former 2016 United States Youth Soccer national champion and Golden Glove recipient had no shortage of college offers.

Kirberg had looks from schools such as the San Francisco, University of the Pacific, Cal State Fullerton, Portland and Pittsburgh.

Kirberg’s success hasn’t come easily. His ride to the top has been a bumpy one.

In 2018 Kirberg was cut from the Real Salt Lake Academy, a professional soccer program in Utah  where young players soccer games are molded.

Kirberg used the failure as motivation to reassess his goals.

“It shows that all my hard work, dedication and sacrifice has finally paid off for me. It’s a surreal moment,” Kirberg said.

Eagles head coach George Archuleta has coached Kirberg throughout his life and has seen the goalkeeper grow mentally.

“He’s really focused, and he drives his teammates to be better. I like that I don’t have to coach as much because his voice is coming across the field as a commanding presence,” Archuleta said.

Kirberg is a self-proclaimed leader and the backbone of the Eagles defense, but he never lets that block his “team-first” mentality.

“He has an, ‘I’m not important,’ but instead a, ‘We are important mentality,’” said Archuleta.

Long-time friend and senior center back Nick Ticknor said at times the Eagles have problems playing from behind.

“We have problems staying positive and getting on to each other. He’s the backbone that keeps us together,” said Ticknor.

Kirberg’s work ethic and the mentality is contagious and lifts the team’s spirits when times look bleak.

“Just watching him work and seeing how it has paid off helps me to keep going,” Ticknor said.

The Eagles clinched the 6A Regional title with a win against Chaparral last week.

Kirberg also clinched the 6A Saves title with 133 along with five shutout performances.

Kirberg has his eyes set on a state title now.

“It would mean everything to me since this school has given me so much,” Kirberg said.