 "Photo: Courtesy of MLS Communications")
 "Photo: Courtesy of MLS Communications")
Take one look at Nick LaBrocca’s resume and it comes as no surprise that the former Rutgers men’s soccer midfielder is a professional player.
LaBrocca was a four-year starter, team captain and three-time All-Big East selection during his time as a Scarlet Knight from 2003-06, and following his senior season the Colorado Rapids made him the 35th pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
“You could tell that Nick was the type of guy that was going to be a professional player from the moment he got here,” said 29-year Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso. “He was an engine, and the biggest thing that stood out was his work ethic. When he played he did the amount of running for two players.”
Three years later, LaBrocca anchors the midfield of a Colorado team jostling for playoff position. Since he was inserted into the lineup at the beginning of the 2008 season, he has started 55 of 58 games, scoring four times.
But just because he’s penciled in to the starting 11 on matchday doesn’t mean LaBrocca takes his place in the team for granted.
“I don’t want to say that [I’m an established player]. When people start to feel like they’ve accomplished something, that’s when they get complacent and that’s when their game drops a little bit,” he said. “I would say that I need to continue to get better because there is always going to be somebody coming for you and I just try and do my job. I try not to think about what other people think and just do what’s best for the team and try to win the game.”
That type of attitude is something LaBrocca credits back to his college days when the diminutive midfielder — he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds —had to grow up quickly in the rugged Big East conference.
“[Playing college soccer] really addressed the aspects of my game that were lacking —especially the physical aspects of it,” said the 24-year-old Howell, N.J., native. “I’m not the biggest guy in the world, and that’s tough when you play in a conference like the Big East. When I was there, there was a huge physical presence and if I didn’t cope with that during my four years at Rutgers I wouldn’t have survived.
“I had to learn to deal with that and play against bigger players. Now battling with people who were bigger than me is probably one of the things that I’m most comfortable with.”
While his time at RU helped prepare him for life as a professional, there were still adjustments the then-22-year-old had to make.
“It was nerve-racking,” LaBrocca said when he got the news he would be joining the Rapids back in 2007. “All of sudden I had to pack up all of my stuff and move somewhere I’ve never been and didn’t know a lot about. I’m with people who I didn’t know at all, so it was definitely nerve-racking.”
But he settled in quickly, something he attributes to rugged MLS veteran Pablo Mastroeni.
The Argentinean-born 33-year-old is in his 12th year in the league and has represented the United States in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, respectively.
“[The biggest improvement] I made was defensively. My first year I didn’t really play at all, and I took that as a time to learn the defensive midfield position from probably one of the best players to play that position in U.S. soccer and that’s Pablo Mastroeni,” LaBrocca said. “[Mastroeni] just leads by example. If I ever have a question I’ll talk to him or ask him about it. He’s been an awesome locker room guy and team player, and just somebody you can really look up to and learn from.”
Mastroeni’s spent his entire career in the MLS, and if there is one thing that LaBrocca wants to do that the former North Carolina State star hasn’t, it’s to play abroad.
“Playing [in Europe] is something I definitely want to do,” LaBrocca said. “It’s something that has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, and I’ve always wanted to go over there.”
But in the here and now, it’s about getting the Rapids into the playoffs, something they can do with a win Saturday at FC Dallas.
“Right now I’m focused at what the job is at hand, and that’s getting into the playoffs and hopefully everything will work out,” LaBrocca said. “We just have to go out and play fearless and everything else should take care of itself.”
As for his former coach back in the Garden State, he couldn’t be happier for his former captain.
“We are delighted with the success he is having and we’re really proud of him,” Reasso said. “He’s a Jersey guy and is representing Rutgers very well in the MLS.”
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