February 15, 2011
Golden Bears' Feature: Q&A with Western New England All-American Alex Dos Santos
With his collegiate soccer career over, Alex Dos Santos is looking to the future in either business or his favorite sport.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Senior captain Alex Dos Santos ranks among the best men's soccer players in the distinguished history of Western New England.
A midfielder and two-year captain, Dos Santos was selected The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Player-of-the-Year in 2010. The Ludlow, Massachusetts native capped his brilliant career by being voted to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-America Team for the second straight year.
Western New England coach Erin Sullivan says that Dos Santos' leadership skills and never-ending quest for excellence on the field and in the classroom were key factors in raising the profile of the men's soccer program.
The Golden Bears compiled a 47-13-12 record (73.6%) the past three years with Alex in the lineup and played in two NCAA Division III Championships after capturing a pair of TCCC Championship titles (2008, 2009). The team was 29-4-6 (82.1%) against TCCC opponents. Western New England also placed second in the ECAC Division III New England Championship in 2010.
Alex also played for legendary coach Joe Pantuosco at Cathedral High School in Springfield and helped the Panthers capture the Western Massachusetts title his senior season. Alex also was a member of the Western United F.C. team coached by former Western New England assistant Joe Calabrese (the current head coach at Utica College) that won the Massachusetts State Championship and advanced to the Region 1 final. Alex played one year at Division II American International College before enrolling at Western New England.
A midfielder and two-year captain, Dos Santos was selected The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Player-of-the-Year in 2010. The Ludlow, Massachusetts native capped his brilliant career by being voted to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-America Team for the second straight year.
Western New England coach Erin Sullivan says that Dos Santos' leadership skills and never-ending quest for excellence on the field and in the classroom were key factors in raising the profile of the men's soccer program.
The Golden Bears compiled a 47-13-12 record (73.6%) the past three years with Alex in the lineup and played in two NCAA Division III Championships after capturing a pair of TCCC Championship titles (2008, 2009). The team was 29-4-6 (82.1%) against TCCC opponents. Western New England also placed second in the ECAC Division III New England Championship in 2010.
Alex also played for legendary coach Joe Pantuosco at Cathedral High School in Springfield and helped the Panthers capture the Western Massachusetts title his senior season. Alex also was a member of the Western United F.C. team coached by former Western New England assistant Joe Calabrese (the current head coach at Utica College) that won the Massachusetts State Championship and advanced to the Region 1 final. Alex played one year at Division II American International College before enrolling at Western New England.
Alex Dos Santos was the Western New England Male Athlete-of-the-Year for the 2009-10 school year.
Q. Alex, congratulations on a great career. Your leadership played a key role in keeping the Golden Bears on the national landscape. Looking back, what special memories and highlights do you have?
A. Any time you have a chance to play in an NCAA tournament game, it is very memorable moment. Playing last year's first round NCAA game, in what was considered "the mud bowl," has to be my favorite memory as a WNEC soccer player. I was proud of how my team played in such difficult conditions while managing to defeat a very good Babson team 1-0. All the tough practices, locker-room jokes, and home games at Supernant Field are memories that I will carry with me forever.
Q. The NSCAA Convention recently took place in Baltimore and you picked-up your second All-American award there. Talk a little about the banquet and awards ceremony.
A. Being named an All-American for two consecutive years was one of the greatest achievements of my soccer career. I wouldn't have made it as far as I have without the support of my coaches and teammates. Attending the NSCAA convention in Baltimore with my coaches was a very rewarding experience. At the banquet, we had the opportunity to listen to the son of Joe Gaetjens speak on his father's behalf about the goal he scored in the 1950 World Cup. Joe Gaetjens is one of the most famous U.S. soccer players in history for scoring the game winning goal against England in that World Cup and put U.S. soccer on the map. It was interesting to hear about the struggles that he faced and to see how the game was viewed by Americans back then. It was an eye-opening experience to hear his son speak and see how the appreciation for the game has come back. That was definitely the best part of the banquet.
A. Any time you have a chance to play in an NCAA tournament game, it is very memorable moment. Playing last year's first round NCAA game, in what was considered "the mud bowl," has to be my favorite memory as a WNEC soccer player. I was proud of how my team played in such difficult conditions while managing to defeat a very good Babson team 1-0. All the tough practices, locker-room jokes, and home games at Supernant Field are memories that I will carry with me forever.
Q. The NSCAA Convention recently took place in Baltimore and you picked-up your second All-American award there. Talk a little about the banquet and awards ceremony.
A. Being named an All-American for two consecutive years was one of the greatest achievements of my soccer career. I wouldn't have made it as far as I have without the support of my coaches and teammates. Attending the NSCAA convention in Baltimore with my coaches was a very rewarding experience. At the banquet, we had the opportunity to listen to the son of Joe Gaetjens speak on his father's behalf about the goal he scored in the 1950 World Cup. Joe Gaetjens is one of the most famous U.S. soccer players in history for scoring the game winning goal against England in that World Cup and put U.S. soccer on the map. It was interesting to hear about the struggles that he faced and to see how the game was viewed by Americans back then. It was an eye-opening experience to hear his son speak and see how the appreciation for the game has come back. That was definitely the best part of the banquet.
Q. You also were invited to a tryout camp with the 2010 MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids last month in Denver. What was that like and do you want to continue playing soccer after graduation?
A. Being invited to Colorado was a tremendous honor. For them to identify me as a good enough prospect meant a lot and shows how far I have come as a player. The professionalism there was second to none; it was awesome to be around such high level players and coaches who demanded professional quality soccer all the time. Training was very difficult and these athletes were some of the best in the country. Seeing how a professional team operates was a wonderful experience and I couldn't be happier about going out for the tryout.
Q. What advice can you give your teammates to continue their success in 2011?
A. There is no substitute for hard work. Continue day in and day out to push yourself especially when nobody is watching. Continue to push yourself to levels you never thought you could reach because if you can dream it, you can achieve it. Remember every time you put that jersey on that you are playing for yourselves and the men that came before you who put this program on the map. Honor the legacy and treat it with respect and leave your stamp on the program.
A. Being invited to Colorado was a tremendous honor. For them to identify me as a good enough prospect meant a lot and shows how far I have come as a player. The professionalism there was second to none; it was awesome to be around such high level players and coaches who demanded professional quality soccer all the time. Training was very difficult and these athletes were some of the best in the country. Seeing how a professional team operates was a wonderful experience and I couldn't be happier about going out for the tryout.
Q. What advice can you give your teammates to continue their success in 2011?
A. There is no substitute for hard work. Continue day in and day out to push yourself especially when nobody is watching. Continue to push yourself to levels you never thought you could reach because if you can dream it, you can achieve it. Remember every time you put that jersey on that you are playing for yourselves and the men that came before you who put this program on the map. Honor the legacy and treat it with respect and leave your stamp on the program.
Alex holds 2009 TCCC Championship plaque in photo with coach Erin Sullivan and fellow captain (and hometown friend) Marco Gomes.
Q. It's hard to believe you will be graduating in a few months. What does the future hold for Alex Dos Santos?
A. Well, currently I'm looking for a job. I'm a finance major so I'm looking to try to work in insurance, real estate or private investing. I'm applying for jobs now and hoping to find some work. I'm also thinking about possibly staying here at the College and getting a master's, and hopefully having some involvement with the team. I haven't ruled out the possibility playing somewhere after school but I'm looking to start my career.
A. Well, currently I'm looking for a job. I'm a finance major so I'm looking to try to work in insurance, real estate or private investing. I'm applying for jobs now and hoping to find some work. I'm also thinking about possibly staying here at the College and getting a master's, and hopefully having some involvement with the team. I haven't ruled out the possibility playing somewhere after school but I'm looking to start my career.
