Club Men's Soccer Struck Best Season in Program History

Eric Keohane, the president of the club, shared his hope for getting the word out about tryouts taking place early in the school year and believes doing so would be important in improving the team. He shared that he often hears of talented students, particularly international students, who just don’t know about tryouts until the team has been selected. Keohane highlights the importance of diversity on the team, both for raw talent and for exposure to different cultures. “What I love about soccer and particularly our club team compared to other club teams…, it’s so diverse,” he says. “There are people from all different countries coming together. It’s cool to see people from different countries who have different philosophies and see it all mesh together and try to make a cohesive team. It’s just really cool. I think soccer in particular really does that and it’s awesome to see.”

The sense of community within the team was evident, with diverse backgrounds and perspectives coming together. As Keohane explained, "there's something about sports that really brings people together." This unity and shared passion for soccer played a significant role in the team’s success.

The addition of a volunteer coach has also contributed to the recent successes. This past year marks the first time that the team has had a coach. In past years, it was truly student-led, even when it came to coaching and decision making. This coach has been committed to the team and has helped support the change of culture with higher expectation for taking the commitment seriously. Having a coach who can help reiterate that culture contributes to the team’s success. Not only does having a coach help with developing strategy and plans for games, but also serves as a leader and person of authority for the team to look to. 

This team is fully player-led and funded by donations, which help cover expenses like referee and league fees, equipment and travel costs. It takes a lot to create a successful program, both by recruiting talented players to try out and to cover all of the various expenses to play and compete.

Although Keohane graduated in May, he expressed his hopes for the team, saying, “I just hope we keep getting better and better. Continuing to build the culture. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

To support this club or other extracurricular experiences, follow this link.

 

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