Jason Kim, third-year medical student and coach of NSU men’s Club Soccer, recalls a player with temper issues he coached during his first year at the club.
“I think working with him and trying to get the best out of him was one of the most fulfilling things a coach can do. I was very honored to have been given that opportunity,” Kim said.
NSU’s midfielder number 4 Santi Vargas defends a corner kick. Photo by Sydni Smaller.
At Club Soccer, coaches and players see the person behind the sport and focus on personal growth just as much as competitive playing. This season, Kim has big goals.
“I would very much like to see an undefeated season,” Kim said. “But beyond that, I hope to see personal growth in each of these guys’ discipline and work ethic, placing a lot of emphasis on how much these guys grow as people, not just players.”
Club Soccer had tryouts the last week of August and officially started training on Labor Day.
Almost 120 people attended tryouts, which is the most Kim has ever seen.
Raul Encio, president of the club and first-year dental student, is excited about this season’s 24 player lineup.
“This year, we have a bunch of fresh new blood that just came into NSU, [that are] super excited to play,” Encio said. “More than half the team is freshmen, so that’s super cool, and they are all super competitive and ready to start the season.”
The club lost nine seniors this season, and Encio said these new members have a big gap to fill.
This season, the roster has players from 10 different nationalities, three of which have played for Division II soccer.
He is especially pleased to welcome former NSU team player Christian Gorski, second-year graduate student in finance, to the club.
Returning members are geared up for this new season, coming off the end of spring 2023. The team won their last game 9-0.
Co-president Fabian Aguayo, sophomore sports and recreational management major, is also confident in his team this season.
“We’re trying to know each player personally, but at the beginning I see that they are really good players,” Aguayo said. “I think this season is going to be awesome for us.”
But Club Soccer wasn’t always this successful. Kim recalled how during his first two seasons as coach in fall 2021 and spring 2022, Club Soccer won zero games. Its best result had been a tie.
“In my mind I questioned myself,” Kim said. “What am I actually bringing to this program?”
That year had been Encio’s first year as a member.
“When I joined, the club was pretty dead,” Encio said. “The tryouts were like 30 kids. And of those 30 kids, half of them don’t even play soccer.”
He was passionate about seeing the club grow, and this year, as president, he is doing all he can to make that dream come true.
“I kept on trying to get involved,” Encio said. “I don’t care about being president. I care more about the longevity of the club, and making it grow, because three years ago there was nobody there.”
Club Soccer has definitely grown since its humble beginnings. After that first shaky year under Kim, the club saw massive development starting in the fall of 2022 as its members got into the flow of competing and built a foundation.
“The spring season of 2023, the guys put everything together and I witnessed the biggest growth in the team that I’ve seen in such a short span of time,” Kim said. “If I had ended things as coach last year, I wouldn’t have been that upset, because how we started versus how we finished last year has in and of itself been an amazing accomplishment.”
One exciting opportunity Club Soccer has recently acquired is a partnership with Red Bull and Celsius. The company provides the team free products in return for social media sponsorship from the members.
Encio sees bigger opportunities in the club’s future if it continues this level of performance. One of his goals is for his team to reach a skill level where it can competitively scrimmage the NSU team.
Encio also hopes that, one day, Club Soccer can be a gateway for students to walk onto the NSU team. He said that Club Soccer will soon try to forge a connection with the NSU team that can make it possible for club members to transition into NSU team members.
In the meantime, the team is focusing on building a solid track record. Its next games are against the University of Tampa on Sept. 23 and the University of Florida on Sept. 30.
For the most updated information on the club’s game schedule, visit its Instagram page, @nsumensclubscocer.
For students who are interested in joining the team, tryouts are held every semester. Aguayo advises interested students to start physical training prior to tryouts because the team places a heavy emphasis on running and other physical activity. He advises above all, however, to be respectful to the other players.
Current members said that players gain a lot more than just soccer skills.
“My personal favorite thing about being part of the Club Soccer team is the connections you make and the long-lasting friendships that will truly last you throughout your whole life,” Encio said.
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