While the varsity men's and women's soccer teams were streaking in the NCAA playoffs, an often overlooked soccer team at Hopkins was similarly making a name for itself. Two weekends ago, the Hopkins men's club soccer team competed at the National Campus Championship Series National Soccer Championships at the University of Alabama. Competing against club teams from other colleges with Division I soccer programs, and whose student bodies have roughly four times the size of Hopkins, the club team showed just how impressive its accomplishments actually are.
Club sports at Hopkins differ from varsity sports for two main reasons; the first is funding. Club sports do not receive the same funding varsity sports do with respect to coaching, uniforms, field time and travel expenses. Club sports are also not as large a time commitment and attract many athletes who played a sport in high school and wanted to continue to play in college without making a varsity-level time commitment.
With that said, it should not be understated that club soccer at Hopkins is taken very seriously. Founded 15 years ago, coinciding with the founding of the national club soccer organization, the team has developed into a strong contender in the collegiate club soccer realm. While not a varsity team, the team practices two or three days a week on the practice field, and the talent level of the self-coached team is undeniable.
"All of the guys on the team played varsity in high school," club president Jason Wink said. "Many of the guys played on top high school and club teams and were All-State selections in high school." This year the team had roughly 60 hopefuls try out for five open spots on the roster. Also, like a varsity sport, the team strives to achieve great chemistry off the field as well as on it.
"As a team we are a close knit group of guys who definitely have had a great time this season," Wink said. He also told several amusing stories such as the team van getting stuck in a gravel pit at a Waffle House in Tuscaloosa, listening to "Live Your Life" by T.I. before each game.
What makes Hopkins club soccer unique is that it plays by an extraordinarily tough schedule. The team scheduled many club teams from schools with much larger student bodies. During the regular season alone the team played against UMBC, Georgetown, Yale, Princeton, Brown and Maryland. Compiling a 4-2 record, the team was seeded 18th in its regional tournament, with the top two teams qualifying for nationals. In pool play, the Jays knocked off Drexel, Yale and #2 seed Buffalo to advance to the quarterfinals. The Jays defeated Rutgers in the quarterfinals and Northeastern in the semifinals before falling to Penn State in the finals. Yet with the top two teams securing bids at nationals the loss was inconsequential.
While getting to nationals was hard, but it seemed that raising money for the trip to Alabama was just as difficult.
"Finding funding for this trip was nearly impossible," Wink said. "I went door to door around campus with little success. I was amazed to see how little support we were able to get."
The team received a loan from Dean Boswell that the group will need to pay back before the end of the budget year, while also securing a small amount of money from Gabby Castellano and the sports council.
Once at nationals, the team would be greatly tested as the team was put into the toughest first round grouping, playing the University of Florida and then the eventual champion, University of Indiana. Hopkins jumped out to an early lead versus Florida, but the Gators club team scored in the final five minutes and the game ended in a tie. Against Indiana, the team was emotionally and physically drained from the Florida game and lost a 2-0 decision.
"Our one question going into the tournament was our lack of size and it really came back to hurt us as all three goals we conceded against Indiana and Florida were on set plays," Wink said.
The loss and the tie put Hopkins in the consolation bracket, where the Jays beat North Dakota State 2-0 and then fell to Baylor 2-1. Despite not winning the tournament, Wink was, rightfully so, very pleased with the team's performance.
"Overall, I do think we represented our University well," Wink said. "(We) definitely deserved to be there playing with the best in the country."
While the season is over for now, the team will still need to organize fundraisers in the coming months and is looking for donations to repay the money they owe to the school. But Wink is optimistic that the team's success will lead to good fortunes.
"I hope that in the coming years the team can continue to find the kind of success we had this season and that our school can increase support for our program making it easier for the team to make this trip every year," Wink said.
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