FAVILA HEATS UP

There's certainly nothing like experience.

Just ask Noe Favila, who just might have had a leg up on many candidates at the recent Major Arena Soccer League Pro-Player Combine and Draft.

Playing 11 games with the Empire Strykers during the 2022-23 season helped the Favila learn the ropes, the unique intricacies of the indoor game and impress coaches during the recent combine in San Diego.

"I played in the league, and I feel with all my teammates that I've had in the past, they've helped me," Favila said. "They've helped me understand the game and play the game a little bit more. So going into the draft, it was kind of like, I'm either going to get first or I'm going to get first."

Which he did.

In fact, Harrisburg Heat head coach Pat Healey was so impressed with Favila that the team traded up from the fourth to the top spot, with the St. Louis Ambush, to grab the Carlsbad, Calif. native on Oct. 29.

"I thought he was the best player by far," he said. "Showed the confidence, showed the ability to be creative in tight spaces. He's a crafty lefty.”

And good, left-sided players can be a rare commodity in soccer.

"Indoor soccer, the more you play, the better you get,” Healey added. “It is its own sport. Yes, it's soccer, but it's a cross between hockey and basketball. So, the movements are a little bit different, but he was able to make it adapt and create goals and assists throughout the few days."

Healey wanted to make certain that Favila would be a member of the Heat so he negotiated a contract with the 5-foot-10, 155-forward before the team drafted him.

"It was like the old NFL," Healy said. "You're talking to the first pick and you're trying to get the contract done, too. It almost goes hand in hand."

Favila, 26, whose first name is pronounced No-A, said that he had spoken to the Ambush and the Dallas Sidekicks as well. At that juncture, it didn't matter.

"I wanted to go first," he said. "That was the thing. I wanted the Capelli endorsement, too."

As the top draft choice, Favila received $1,000 in gear and merchandise from Capelli Sport, which has been a partner at the combine-draft the last two years.

And now Favila has an opportunity to pursue the sport he loves so much.

"I just didn't see myself doing anything else," he said. "I just want to play soccer, to be honest."

At Corban University Favila earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, "because growing up, I wanted to be an FBI agent."

Perhaps that is something that Favila can pursue after his career, but now he is focused on only one thing - soccer.

"I don't think about anything else but soccer when I'm playing," he said. "I feel I have an empty mind when I'm playing soccer."

Like many players, Favila grew up playing outdoor soccer at the youth, high school and college levels. He transferred from Multnomah University to Corban and was named the team's newcomer of the year in 2021, leading the Cascade Collegiate Conference with seven assists, and was a first team All-CCC selection, while ranking second on his team with five goals. Corban also qualified for the NAIA national tournament for the eighth consecutive time.

The course of his soccer career changed when he played some pick-up futsal at Rose City Futsal in Portland, Oregon in 2022. 

"This guy comes up to me, and he tells me, 'The U.S. futsal national team is asking me to get players, because they want numbers and they're asking me to get good players, so I'm going sign you up,' " he said.

Favila attended a week-long training camp and met MASL scoring legend and current St. Louis Ambush forward Frank Tayou, who was then with the Strykers. 

Tayou asked Favila what position he played.

Favila: "I didn't even know there were positions. I just felt everybody moved everywhere."

Tayou: "You're a natural. You're going to play some. You're going to come play for my team."

Favila: "What are you talking about?"

Tayou: "I play professional indoor soccer."

The next day Favila spoke with then Strykers head coach Jimmy Nordberg, currently the club's executive vice president.

He signed with the team and while he scored only once in 11 appearances, it turned out to be a big goal at the Monterrey Flash on Feb. 3

With 64 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Favila found the net that cut the Strykers' deficit to 4-3. That goal ignited a comeback.

"It just created more momentum," he said.

The teams battled to a wild 6-6 tie in regulation before the visitors recorded a 3-1 shootout win.

It was the first time the Strykers won in Mexico after many attempts.

"It was the craziest thing ever," Favila said. "Some of the guys have been in the league for so long, they said that they've never had such a fun or competitive game."

The learning curve was steep with the Strykers.

"My first year was super hard," Favila said. "I've learned to play with the sole of my foot. I never used to do that. I never stepped on the ball. I used to play with the side of my foot.”

Favila wanted to return to the Strykers for the 2023-24 season, but wasn't offered a contract.

With this year's combine-draft in San Diego, Favila decided to give the MASL another try.

Needless to say, it worked out quite well.

But beyond being the No. 1 draft pick, Favila has plenty of things on which to improve.

"There's just so many things you need to do indoors," Favila said. "It's just a crazy game; the movement off the ball, knowing when to check, knowing when to stop the game, when to go, because it's not always one speed."

In the outdoor game, players pass the ball from side to side, Favila said. Indoors, the ball goes forward and then back. 

"It's kind of weird," he said. "You have to pass it to the target [man]. The target holds it, sends it back. Recycle with a three-man weave."

Favila admitted that he wasn’t a big soccer fan. He said that he would rather play it than watch it. He doesn't have a favorite player or team.

"I like Messi. I like all the lefties," he said. "I like [Mohamed] Salah because I'm a lefty."

The Heat began preseason training on Monday, Nov. 11. Favila said that he planned to fly to Pennsylvania on Saturday, Nov. 9.

When asked what his strengths were as a player, Favila replied, "I feel like I'm more of like a shower than a teller. I won't say anything, but I'll just do it. I'll just work hard. No one's going to have to tell me to work hard. I feel Pat, the Harrisburg Heat [made] the right choice, because they got the right guy for this situation."

Favila’s goals this season are simple.

"I'm trying to score as much as possible, to be honest," he said. "I want to be high on points."

Noe Favila will have that opportunity to start demonstrating what he can achieve on Dec. 8, when the Heat will kick off its season at the Baltimore Blast. 

Michael Lewis can be reached at X (formerly Twitter) or at @SoccerWriter or at Threads at @Soccerwriter1.