BERKELEY – California men's soccer alumnus Anthony Salciccia, who played for the Golden Bears from 2009-2012, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 25. He was 31.
 
Salciccia was part of the talented 2010 Cal squad that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship. "Cheecha," as he was known by his teammates and coaches, overlapped for one season with current Cal assistant coach Jacob Wilson, a former All-Pac-12 defender for the Bears whose senior year was 2009.
 
"Cheecha quickly became a part of our inner circle when he arrived at Cal, as he won us over with his positive energy and competitiveness," Wilson said. "His work ethic, talent and passion made him the player and person he was. He cared so much about the people around him. His family was the most important thing to him. He was a quiet person in general, but his actions spoke much louder than his words."
 
A Bay Area product from San Jose, the midfielder was named to the NSCAA All-Far West Region third team and to the All-Pac-12 first team in his senior season of 2012, when he started all 18 games, led Cal in points (16), tied for the team high in goals (5) and ranked second in assists (6). Salciccia also ranked second in game-winning goals (2) and converted all three of Cal's penalty kicks in his final season. The team named him the recipient of the 2012 Bob DiGrazia Award, its MVP honor named for the program's former long-time head coach and Cal Athletics Hall of Famer.
 
Salciccia posted 12 goals, 13 assists and 37 points in 73 games for the Bears. He also made 61 starts and was chosen to the All-Pac-12 second team as a junior in 2011.
 
"We are going to miss him," Wilson said. "He left us too soon, and he will always have a special place in our hearts."
 
A three-time member of the Pac-12 All-Academic second team, Salciccia majored in social welfare at Cal.