It is not often that someone can say that they have played against their sporting idol in the game that they love, but Rutgers men's soccer captain Josh Carroll can.
After spending years admiring the skill and flair of Cobi Jones, Carroll finally had the chance to share the pitch with the most capped U.S national player.
"I got to play against him when I played LA Galaxy a few years back," Carroll said of the experience. "It was amazing, I couldn't tackle the man. I mean my dog's name is Cobi Jones!"
Since birth, it seems Caroll was destined to be a soccer player.
His father played the game, and his mother knows more trivia than many diehard fans.
"My dad basically started soccer in Wyoming. There was nothing before he was there," Carroll said. "And my mom watches every game, she screams at all the players."
From his first year in high school, Carroll was already a record-breaking player. He broke the school's scoring record by netting 13 goals as a freshman, earning him an All-State selection in the process. Carroll also became one of the only players from Wyoming to make the Regional IV team.
"I tried out for two years prior and I didn't get picked both times," Carroll said of the regional tryouts. "Then the third time, the last year possible to make it, that was the year."
When it came to college soccer, Carroll chose to continue his career at Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles.
"LMU was awesome. Los Angeles was fantastic, very different from Wyoming, and the soccer was good," Carroll said of his two year experience.
However, Carroll didn't see college action until his second season after breaking his shin at the start of his freshman year, forcing him to attain a medical redshirt.
"The second year was good and we played well," Carroll said of LMU's season. "But it didn't end the way we wanted it to and I had personal differences with some of the coaches. They were only little things, but I needed to move on and Rutgers was the best option."
In January 2008, Carroll joined coach Bob Reasso's program on the Banks.
"The team is fantastic," Carroll said of the Knights. "Some places you go and there are cliques. With this team, everybody hangs out together. It's a nice feeling."
Carroll has made an instant impact at Rutgers as his character and professionalism earned him the captain's armband, even before his full debut.
"I wasn't expecting it at all," Carroll said of the honor. "I'm just trying to do my best. I didn't know how the guys would react to it, not being here long, but they have been great."
Knight Note: the Rutgers men's soccer team will take on DePaul at Yurcak Field this Saturday at 7pm.
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