The Ashland University men’s soccer team is united under 17 different countries.
Recruitment from many different countries sounds like something that can hinder team dynamics; however, Head Men’s Soccer Coach Nick Roberts believes the team to have more similarities than differences.
“The globalization of things like the internet and those type of things, I think kids nowadays around the world are a lot more similarities than differences,” Roberts said. “They tend to listen to the same music; they tend to fashion be the same.”
Senior American Goalkeeper Ty Bowden finds this sentiment to be true, especially after making the choice at a young age to pursue soccer.
“It’s a game that truly brings people together from all corners of the world and I wanted to be part of that,” Bowden said. “Soccer is so much more than a game, it’s a global language that connects people.”
Despite Mexico being close in geographic location to the United States, the culture of soccer is different there finds Freshman Defender Miguel Abarca who is ethnically Mexican.
“I’m not going to say it’s better, but I’d say it’s more passionate,” Abarca said. “Like they love soccer over there, but that’s the main difference compared to here in the U.S.”
Senior Brazilian Midfielder Andre Dutra finds that despite his country sharing the same passion for soccer like Mexico, both countries lack college athletics outweigh the passion to play there.
“Here you have a good mix between study and sports,” Dutra said. “I think my decision was mainly because I wanted to keep playing in a good level, a high level and back home I wouldn’t be able if I would only pick, I would have only pick one, either soccer or college.”
Junior English Defender Flynn Toon agrees with the statement.
“The main influence for me was to continue playing soccer full-time at the highest level possible while also integrating the idea of gaining a degree in Criminal Justice which I can use once I know my playing days are over,” Toon said.
Soccer isn’t as big of a sport in America, but Senior Spanish Midfielder Riki Soto believes soccer culture is growing within the United States.
“I think definitely soccer culture here in the United States is growing,” Soto said.
He finds if the states want to continue growing, they must do the following.
“I think they really look up to, you know, the European, these guys could be like England, Spain, France, and also the best players are from South America,” Soto said.
The team finds that the interesting part of playing with one another on such a diverse team is the ability to see the different styles of playing in other countries.
“It’s interesting because sometimes you can tell like some players, you can tell where they’re from by looking at the way they play,” Soto said.
“Spain, they’re a lot more technical on the ball and that’s a big difference I’ve noticed so far,” Abarca said.
Despite the team finding all of these differences among one another, the team finds its differences are what makes it more united.
“I think personally for me it’s great because I got to also develop myself as a player, playing with different like backgrounds and be able to play with all of them is really enjoyable,” Dutra said.
“It is really refreshing to learn and try to establish some means to why players may play or practice differently to myself because I have learnt my trade in one way but there are many ways in which players perform, so to integrate with teammates with diverse backgrounds is always refreshing to see,” Toon said.
Despite an abrupt end to their season in quarterfinals, the men’s soccer team found success beyond the field. They are able to grow as people with one another and find beauty in each other’s cultures they’ll take with them for a lifetime.
