Last season, San Antonio FC defender Greg Cochrane appeared in 97 percent of the club’s matches in all competitions — let that sink in for a minute. Cochrane was one of only two players who saw action in the team’s 30 league matches and three U.S. Open Cup matches, and still he played 257 minutes more than runner-up Carlos Alvarez.
The Pennsylvania native was a machine in 2016. Part of the reason for that accomplishment was his versatility, which saw him play in the back line as well as on the wing, but more than that, it was his dedication to the team and to giving the most of himself to the newly founded SAFC.
“Being part of the club’s inaugural season was fun,” Cochrane said. “Being part of something from the very start was special and I had never been a part of something like that before, so I liked the opportunity to put my footprint on how things went."
For Cochrane, featuring in as many matches as he did was also something new. Prior to joining SAFC, the defender spent time in Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire, and though he got a decent amount of playing time with the two clubs, playing regularly was an important personal accomplishment.
“It was great to be able to play in all of those games and get all those minutes,” Cochrane said. “That was the first time in my professional career that I have been able to do that. In previous years I found myself in and out of the lineup, so I thought this past season was very beneficial to improve my game.”
Despite playing a full game in all but two matches total in both the league and Open Cup, Cochrane’s discipline and dedication to maintaining his body kept him from ever feeling any negative physical consequences. From ensuring he was performing the necessary recovery stretches, to watching his nutrition, the 26-year-old made sure he was keeping himself healthy and fit at all times.
“I pride myself in always being one of the fittest guys on the team and taking care of my body,” Cochrane said. “I felt good the whole year, I never felt like my body was breaking down. A lot of times you have to do a lot of little stuff to make sure your body is right in your down time, but I always make sure to stay on top of it because I want to play all those games and get all those minutes.”
Although he enjoys the constant playing time, Cochrane is currently taking advantage of the offseason. After all, the SAFC iron man only had a little over a month to prepare for the club’s inaugural season after joining the club originally in February.
Though the beginning of year one in the SAFC history was a bit rushed due to time constraints, Cochrane felt the team’s performance was good despite missing the playoffs. Now, with a full offseason to prepare and improve on last season’s flaws, he looks forward to the beginning of year two.
“Last year was a little crazy [at the beginning,]” Cochrane said. “But credit to [Managing Director] Tim Holt, Coach Darren Powell and the technical staff for putting together a squad as quickly as they did. We were a competitive squad all the way to the last game, which unfortunately didn’t go our way, but going into year two we have a philosophy.
“Coach Darren knows what he wants and the style he wants to play, so I think it will be a lot smoother. There are some returning faces, so it’s easier when you have some familiarity with some of the guys.”
Cochrane’s goals for 2017 are clear. They include securing a spot in the playoffs and hopefully winning the USL Championship, as well as improving on the club’s 2016 Open Cup campaign, which saw the team face elimination at the hands of the Houston Dynamo in the fourth round.
In a more personal aspect, he hopes to help the team concede fewer goals and losses, while also surpassing his three assists from 2016, which were tied for the third-most by a defender, and contributing more in the attack.
One other exciting aspect of the new season is the opportunity to continue to help in the club’s pursuit of an MLS bid. Cochrane, who has played for two top-tier organizations already, believes SAFC is on the right track to achieving its goals.
“Having the backing of Spurs Sports & Entertainment is great,” Cochrane said. “Everyone knows they’re one of the best sports organizations in the world, and they’re doing their work. Obviously we have a duty on the field to bring championships to the city because that’s what the organization expects, but we also have a great stadium and an amazing fan base, so I think it’s all heading in the right direction.”
Last but certainly not least, Cochrane looks forward to wearing the SAFC shirt yet again and continuing to represent the San Antonio supporters, who have shown their commitment to the club since day one through thick and thin, and who he believes deserve to see the best results on the pitch.
“I’m looking forward to playing in front of our fans again,” Cochrane said. “They’re one of the best, if not the best, supporters in the league. They were with us all the way to the end last season and it never seemed like their support ever dropped off. They create an atmosphere that as a player you want to play in front of, and they’re really great people. They truly care about the city, and that makes us players want to put in our best performance to repay them."
Last season, San Antonio FC defender Greg Cochrane appeared in 97 percent of the club’s matches in all competitions — let that sink in for a minute. Cochrane was one of only two players who saw action in the team’s 30 league matches and three U.S. Open Cup matches, and still he played 257 minutes more than runner-up Carlos Alvarez.
The Pennsylvania native was a machine in 2016. Part of the reason for that accomplishment was his versatility, which saw him play in the back line as well as on the wing, but more than that, it was his dedication to the team and to giving the most of himself to the newly founded SAFC.
“Being part of the club’s inaugural season was fun,” Cochrane said. “Being part of something from the very start was special and I had never been a part of something like that before, so I liked the opportunity to put my footprint on how things went.”
For Cochrane, featuring in as many matches as he did was also something new. Prior to joining SAFC, the defender spent time in Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire, and though he got a decent amount of playing time with the two clubs, playing regularly was an important personal accomplishment.
“It was great to be able to play in all of those games and get all those minutes,” Cochrane said. “That was the first time in my professional career that I have been able to do that. In previous years I found myself in and out of the lineup, so I thought this past season was very beneficial to improve my game.”
Despite playing a full game in all but two matches total in both the league and Open Cup, Cochrane’s discipline and dedication to maintaining his body kept him from ever feeling any negative physical consequences. From ensuring he was performing the necessary recovery stretches, to watching his nutrition, the 26-year-old made sure he was keeping himself healthy and fit at all times.
“I pride myself in always being one of the fittest guys on the team and taking care of my body,” Cochrane said. “I felt good the whole year, I never felt like my body was breaking down. A lot of times you have to do a lot of little stuff to make sure your body is right in your down time, but I always make sure to stay on top of it because I want to play all those games and get all those minutes.”
Although he enjoys the constant playing time, Cochrane is currently taking advantage of the offseason. After all, the SAFC iron man only had a little over a month to prepare for the club’s inaugural season after joining the club originally in February.
Though the beginning of year one in the SAFC history was a bit rushed due to time constraints, Cochrane felt the team’s performance was good despite missing the playoffs. Now, with a full offseason to prepare and improve on last season’s flaws, he looks forward to the beginning of year two.
“Last year was a little crazy [at the beginning,]” Cochrane said. “But credit to [Managing Director] Tim Holt, Coach Darren Powell and the technical staff for putting together a squad as quickly as they did. We were a competitive squad all the way to the last game, which unfortunately didn’t go our way, but going into year two we have a philosophy.
“Coach Darren knows what he wants and the style he wants to play, so I think it will be a lot smoother. There are some returning faces, so it’s easier when you have some familiarity with some of the guys.”
Cochrane’s goals for 2017 are clear. They include securing a spot in the playoffs and hopefully winning the USL Championship, as well as improving on the club’s 2016 Open Cup campaign, which saw the team face elimination at the hands of the Houston Dynamo in the fourth round.
In a more personal aspect, he hopes to help the team concede fewer goals and losses, while also surpassing his three assists from 2016, which were tied for the third-most by a defender, and contributing more in the attack.
One other exciting aspect of the new season is the opportunity to continue to help in the club’s pursuit of an MLS bid. Cochrane, who has played for two top-tier organizations already, believes SAFC is on the right track to achieving its goals.
“Having the backing of Spurs Sports & Entertainment is great,” Cochrane said. “Everyone knows they’re one of the best sports organizations in the world, and they’re doing their work. Obviously we have a duty on the field to bring championships to the city because that’s what the organization expects, but we also have a great stadium and an amazing fan base, so I think it’s all heading in the right direction.”
Last but certainly not least, Cochrane looks forward to wearing the SAFC shirt yet again and continuing to represent the San Antonio supporters, who have shown their commitment to the club since day one through thick and thin, and who he believes deserve to see the best results on the pitch.
“I’m looking forward to playing in front of our fans again,” Cochrane said. “They’re one of the best, if not the best, supporters in the league. They were with us all the way to the end last season and it never seemed like their support ever dropped off. They create an atmosphere that as a player you want to play in front of, and they’re really great people. They truly care about the city, and that makes us players want to put in our best performance to repay them.”
