MSOCCER: Saying goodbye to four soccer mainstays
Men's seniors end their college careers
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 11/13/07
Posted online at 1:06 AM EST on 11/13/07
/ Last updated at 8:51 PM EST on 11/13/07
After the men's soccer team surrendered a late goal to drop its season finale 2-1 to New York University Nov. 3, the four senior members of the men's soccer team hugged, sharing one last moment together as teammates.
"All the injuries, all the ups and downs we've gone through-we all did it together," David Weinstein '08 says.
Now, over a week later, Weinstein, Evan Duval '08, Brett Fitzgerald '08 and Joe Levitan '08 are still trying to cope with life after soccer. For the better part of 15 years, the last four here at Brandeis, the competitive soccer experience was a part of their daily routines.
"I acknowledge the fact that [my career] is over; I realize I won't play again, but I don't think it has truly hit me yet," Fitzgerald says. "The next day [after the finale] when I woke up, I was ready to go to practice."
For Levitan, who had suffered through playing with a herniated disc in his lower back through much of the season, the conclusion of his playing career at Brandeis was bittersweet.
"Each day that I feel better, I feel worse because I feel like I can play again, but know I'm not going to," he said.
The foursome has anchored the Brandeis soccer program over the past four seasons. They helped lead Brandeis to 36 wins during that span, including an Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament championship in 2006 and coach Mike Coven's 400th career victory last month, but Coven says they contributed far more to the program than their play on the field.
"I have two daughters but never had any sons," Coven says. "If I ever had any sons, I'd be perfectly happy to have them cut out of the same mold as any of these guys."
As first-years on campus in Fall, 2004, Duval, Fitzgerald, Levitan and Weinstein immediately bonded during preseason soccer practices. They particularly enjoyed spending time together on University Athletic Association conference road trips to Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Rochester, N.Y., and St. Louis.
"All the injuries, all the ups and downs we've gone through-we all did it together," David Weinstein '08 says.
Now, over a week later, Weinstein, Evan Duval '08, Brett Fitzgerald '08 and Joe Levitan '08 are still trying to cope with life after soccer. For the better part of 15 years, the last four here at Brandeis, the competitive soccer experience was a part of their daily routines.
"I acknowledge the fact that [my career] is over; I realize I won't play again, but I don't think it has truly hit me yet," Fitzgerald says. "The next day [after the finale] when I woke up, I was ready to go to practice."
For Levitan, who had suffered through playing with a herniated disc in his lower back through much of the season, the conclusion of his playing career at Brandeis was bittersweet.
"Each day that I feel better, I feel worse because I feel like I can play again, but know I'm not going to," he said.
The foursome has anchored the Brandeis soccer program over the past four seasons. They helped lead Brandeis to 36 wins during that span, including an Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament championship in 2006 and coach Mike Coven's 400th career victory last month, but Coven says they contributed far more to the program than their play on the field.
"I have two daughters but never had any sons," Coven says. "If I ever had any sons, I'd be perfectly happy to have them cut out of the same mold as any of these guys."
As first-years on campus in Fall, 2004, Duval, Fitzgerald, Levitan and Weinstein immediately bonded during preseason soccer practices. They particularly enjoyed spending time together on University Athletic Association conference road trips to Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Rochester, N.Y., and St. Louis.
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