TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

After winning one game last year, what has it been like to come out so strong this season?
Last year, obviously, was a little disappointing. It’s been nice to come out with the results we have these last three games. We’ve just got to stay positive because we know we have the ability. Last year, we had the ability, we just couldn’t quite put it together as a team. This year, we’re starting to put it together as a team and the results have shown the hard work we’ve put in. It’s nice. We’re just trying not to get too carried away with it.

On Friday night, freshman Shyle Braithwaite scored in the 86th minute to lead the Bulls to a 1-0 win against Hartford. How much fun was it to come out on the top end of a game like that?
To be honest, I was looking at the scoreboard and I was thinking, I’ll take a nil-nil after 90 minutes. Then I realized we’d have to go into overtime and that brought back the memories of last year, losing in overtime all the time. When Shyle scored, it was quite a big relief. There was no way we were going to lose the lead after finally getting it. It was nice to come out in a close game like that on top.

This year, Daniel Bell already has two shutouts and a lot of that credit goes to your backing line. What has helped the defense meld so well this year?
Last year, we played three at the back and this year, we’re playing four at the back. It gives a lot more options defensively and once we get the ball, there’s more options to get the ball out of the defense. With Mbwana (Johnson) coming from St. Francis, he’s very athletic and very strong and he just gives me a little more cover. Obviously Cheick (Diarra) and Stu (Matt Stuczynski), are both pretty solid and strong and they know how to play the back four. It makes it easier on me.

Coming from England, it must have been quite an adjustment to your first college, Louisburg College, a junior college in North Carolina. What were some things that surprised you about America?
When I came over to the states, I didn’t really know what the set-up was like - junior college, Division I, II, or III. I was just happy coming out here to America and getting a scholarship to come over. When I arrived at Louisburg, it was in the middle of nowhere in North Carolina. There was like 250 students there. It wasn’t what I expected from watching television.

There were four other English lads there, so we just got on with it. We had a good team there and the coach was English as well, so it wasn’t that big a transition.

What was it like playing soccer in England growing up?
High school soccer back home, isn’t seen like that much of a high standard. It’s more like club soccer, that’s where the best players will play. If you are one of the top in the country, a lot of people will leave school at 16 and go play with a professional team. I had a couple tryouts for pro youth teams, but I was never good enough. I ended up playing semi-pro and that was a good level. You got a lot of ex-pros on their way out and playing at the senior level as well got me used to being physically strong and got me used to playing the ball quickly around.

You also played for England’s U-18 team. What was it like playing for your country in tournaments and during games?
That was the England Boys’ Clubs, so all the boys’ clubs in England form the National All-Boys’ Club of England and we played in the Four Nations Tournament against Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I played for two years and the second year I captained. The first year we played at Aire in Scotland and we ended up winning and that was probably one of the highlights of my playing career so far. It was nice just to wear the England badge on your shirt and represent your country. Standing out before the game listening to the National Anthem was quite a nice moment for me.

After two years and an All-American selection, you chose to attend the University at Buffalo. What attracted you to this campus?
I had quite a few offers from Division II teams down in North Carolina and from a couple Division I programs. I obviously wanted to play at the Division I level because it’s seen as the highest level at college. Buffalo was a reasonable program and probably the best offer that I got in the Division I level.

Coach John Astudillo has forged quite a relationship with many of his players. What are some things about him that make it easier to play at UB?
Coach is very approachable and his knowledge of the game is vast. He brings in a lot of knowledge from other types of football, other styles. He tries to get us playing all different styles and not just one way.

He’s very approachable and I can talk to him captain to coach. He listens to me and I listen to him, so it helps us try and work out what’s best for the team.

Last year, you were chosen as a UB Scholar-Athlete. How have you been able to juggle academics along with playing soccer at such a high level?
During the season, my grades tend to be higher because I’ve got to set aside a time to do my schoolwork so it doesn’t conflict with the soccer. It’s a nice break sometimes going to classes from training all the time. The major I’m doing is quite enjoyable. It’s a nice little change from playing soccer all the time, so I don’t mind doing the work. I feel as long as you keep up and do it on time, it doesn’t pose a problem and the two don’t conflict.

What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at the University at Buffalo?
It’s probably the last three games to be honest - coming out strong after we worked hard in the preseason and watching the commitment of the team. Everyone’s put in 110 percent and it’s shown the first three games. Hopefully, we can keep on winning, have a winning season and come in the top two in the Mid-American Conference. Hopefully, we turn some heads in doing it. I think we already did it so far, getting a decent result against Binghamton, who is nationally-ranked (22nd in the NSCAA/adidas poll).

- The “10 Questions with…” feature is compiled by Joe Guistina.