What would you like to do after this year?
I probably want to go into PR or marketing something like that, I’d love to work at a sports company, maybe Nike or Adidas. One thing that appealed to me is that it was so broad, that you could go into a lot of fields.
Why did you choose UP after four years at Stanford?
When I was doing the recruiting process originally, it was one of the front runners for schools and I’ve known (head coach Bill Irwin) for a long time. I love the area, would love to come back closer to home. It just seemed like it would be a good fit for me.
How was your experience with the Timbers U-23 team the summer before your freshman year of college?
I’ve been around the Timbers a lot growing up. I had a lot of the youth coaches growing up. It got me introduced to that level of professionalism. I learned a lot of professionalism from that experience, just watching those players in that environment. And that helped me in college, stepping up to that next level.
Would you think about pursuing a professional soccer career?
Obviously it’s a rough, rough barrier to entry there, but if the opportunity presented itself I’d love to give it a shot. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was yea tall.
What does it do for the team’s confidence after a shutout? (Dodson shut out Southern Methodist University in the Pilots 3-0 win on Sept. 29)
Obviously getting shutouts is great. We emphasize on this team that we have so much firepower going forward that we’re going to score goals. It’s going to be really hard for teams to keep us out, so if we can keep goals out, we’re gonna win games. Especially going into conference this weekend, it’s great to get that momentum win, and get that confidence going in.
Do you and fellow fifth year senior goalkeeper Justin Baarts feel like you need to be leaders on the field and in the locker room?
Definitely. There’s that dynamic. Justin’s been here a lot, he’s had that backroom pulse. I feel like my job is to be on the field, be present. But I feel like setting a tone is something that’s expected of the seniors.
What are your expectations for this season?
I think if we do what we’re supposed to do on the field, I think we have a really good shot at taking the title this year. I really believe that. I know a lot of people say that, but I really think we have the potential this season.
