ESCONDIDO – Luis Duarte and Timmy Zier have been teammates on the Escondido boys soccer team for weeks. They've played together in four games, but until last Wednesday, Timmy didn't know his fellow forward, Luis, spoke very little English.

Zier, a sophomore, returns for his second varsity season after notching six goals as the Cougars' second-leading scorer last year. Escondido lost last season's leading scorer, Leonel Altamirano (seven goals), to graduation, but Duarte, a junior, is looking to fill that void.

“I didn't know (Duarte) didn't speak English that (well) until just now. I just thought he was really quiet,” Zier said. “I guess we speak through how we play.”

So far, the two have made quite a statement.

A transfer from Orange Glen playing his first season of high school soccer, Duarte already has six goals and five assists in four games. Zier has added five goals and three assists, and the two figure to be a fearsome tandem in the Valley League.

“It (soccer) is my passion,” Duarte said through a translator, his teammate Irving Diaz.

Soccer standout Duarte moved to Escondido from Honduras in 2005 and transferred from Orange Glen to Escondido High. He's making progress in the classroom and has six goals and five assists on the field.

Duarte moved to Escondido from Honduras in 2005. He was academically ineligible to play at the high school level during the first two years but said playing for the Cougars this season has helped motivate him in the classroom.

That's good news for Escondido coach Carlos Hernandez, who says his main goal is to see his high school players use soccer to get a college education.

“I want the kids to understand the value of an education,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said Duarte has all the characteristics of a player who could make it to the college level: speed, strength, athleticism, control and determination.

“He has a beautiful touch,” Hernandez said. “He's cold-blooded in front of the goal. He's cool as a cucumber. A lot of times you can't say much, you just got to sit there and watch him and enjoy it.”

Duarte has trouble when it comes to explaining why he seems so poised on the field. The best he can come up with is, “I have confidence in myself that I'm going to score a goal.”

It comes down to having natural abilities that can't be taught, Hernandez said.

“There are kids getting private lessons trying to get the skills that this guy (has) naturally.”

Duarte got his lessons playing in Honduras and later competing in adult leagues in Escondido.

“(I learned) to play more tough and have a good touch,” Duarte said.

That toughness helps Duarte, who is 5 foot 4 inches tall, compensate for his lack of height, Hernandez said. Duarte has no problem taking on players nearly a foot taller.

“This is the difference between a good player and a great player,” Hernandez said. “He's just going to go after the (bigger) guy.”

Adding Duarte to the team has Hernandez feeling good about the Cougars offense this season.

“(Duarte) and Timmy work very well together,” Hernandez said. “(Duarte) is very unselfish. He passes the ball and that's not a quality that a lot of players have.”

Zier is optimistic as well.

“I think me and him can definitely put a spark in Escondido soccer,” Zier said. “I'm just looking forward to the rest of the year, looking forward to the years to come.”

As for the language barrier, Zier and Duarte plan to let their feet do the talking.

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