PJPII Boys Varsity Soccer Star Victor Rodriguez

When it comes to soccer, Victor Rodgriguez knows it. He's been playing a long time, and so has his family. Patch caught up with him after his game and here's what he had to say.

Position: Center Midfield Striker

Toughest part about being a center-mid striker: I get hit a lot.

How long have you been playing, and why did you choose soccer? I’ve been playing since I was 3, and I chose it because my dad grew up playing it, and it was kind of brought down to me. He used to take me out to play.

Role model/influence on your life: My dad. He followed me through everything and never gave up on me. He was my coach since I was 15.

How do you get into the mindset before a game? If we have a home game, I go outside at my house and shoot and juggle the ball around. (If it’s an away game,) I listen to music to try to get focused. Every kind of music.

Have you ever had to overcome any injuries that set you back? I pulled my Achilles, broke my left ankle and came back two months early. It still always feels tweaked. I felt really slow and felt like I missed a lot.

Are you going to play at the college level? I’m a senior, and I’m looking to play at De Salles University.

What are some random facts about you? My favorite sport team is FC Barcelona, and my favorite food is Philly cheesesteaks.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank? I’d really like to thank my dad. He’s helped our program out a lot, helped everyone out, and never gave up on our team, even if we had a bad season.