Join Now  | 
Home About Contact Us Privacy & Security Advertise
Soccer America Daily Special Edition Around The Net College Soccer Reporter Youth Soccer Reporter Soccer on TV Soccer America Classifieds
Paul Gardner: SoccerTalk MLS Confidential Youth Soccer Insider World Cup Watch
RSS Feeds Archives Manage Subscriptions Subscribe
Order Current Issue Subscribe Manage My Subscription Renew My Subscription Gift Subscription
My Account Join Now
Tournament Calendar Camps & Academies Soccer Glossary Classifieds
SOCCER AMERICA INTERVIEW: St. John's Neal Kitson
by Bryan Alvarez, November 25th, 2008 8AM
Subscribe to College Soccer Reporter


MOST READ


Neal Kitson won a national championship as a freshman at NCAA Division II Dowling in 2004 and hopes to finish his career with a second championship, this time with Division I St. John's. Kitson, whose 0.34 goals-against average is the lowest in the country, has been sensational in his first year as a full-time starter with the No. 3 seed Red Storm, who open play in the NCAA Tournament against Boston University.

Neal Kitson
College: St. John's
Class: Redshirt Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Little Neck, N.Y.
High School: Cardozo
Youth Club: New York Pancyprian
Major: Sports Management

Why your team will win the College Cup?
We work harder than any other program. Our coaching staff works hard. They prepare us and get the best out of us. Also, being the number three seed, we're in a good spot. We're 9-0 at home this year. We have a belief that we can win the College Cup.

Biggest area of improvement needed to win College Cup?
We need to adapt to the style that the other team brings. We need to adapt to the tempo. Every team is different. We need to adjust ourselves and attack their weaknesses.

Greatest asset as a player?
I'm not named as a captain but I demand the best out of our players. I'm really competitive. I make sure that our team succeeds.

Biggest weakness as a player?
For three years I've been working on being more aggressive off my line. I've been working everyday with Assistant Coach, Marc Reeves.

Best advice you received when you entered college?
Keep your head up. You can't always have highs. There will be lows. What determines whether you're successful or not is how you deal with the lows. You have to keep working hard and things will go your way.

Advice you gave your freshmen about Coach Masur?
It's no secret that our coaching staff is hungry and determined to win. A freshman might not be used to that. I tell them to keep your head up and take what the coaches tell you in a positive way. Keep working hard.

Pregame ritual?
Since I was 14, I would kiss my hand and touch each post. I also, close my eyes during the national anthem and visualize what I need to do.

Postgame ritual?
I try to review what went on in the game. I watch game video later.

Favorite hangout when you're back home?
On the couch, in front of the TV.

Favorite hangout on campus or in town?
I'm close with the team. We meet throughout the day when we're not in classes. I hang out in the cafeteria with 12 to 15 of us. We like to hang out and do things together.

Fondest memories-playing high school or youth soccer?
In high school, in New York, the biggest award is the PASL Heisman Wingate Award. When I entered high school, I told my Dad that I was going to win that award for him. In 2003, I won it. It was a special moment.

How do you like your soccer-watching on TV or playing video games?
I like playing FIFA and Winning Eleven on the PS3. I get competitive. But, sometimes it's nice to sit back and watch a game. But when you play a video game, you're in control. It's hard to say.

MLS or abroad-where do you want to play?
My family is from England. It's a dream and a goal of mine to go back there and play. I'll go wherever I get the opportunity, but my end goal is England.

18 or 21-what should the drinking age be?
18.



No comments yet.

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now


AUTHORS

ARCHIVES

Recent College Soccer Reporter
Robinson and Bays trio join Demon Deacons    
[WAKE FOREST] D.C. United academy star Jalen Robinson, rated one of the top defenders in the ...
Golden Hurricanes land Salkicic    
[TULSA] Former U.S. under-17 Tarik Salkicic is the prize recruit in Tulsa's 2012 recruiting class. The ...
Gauchos sign Acoff and Campion as transfers    
[UC SANTA BARBARA] Dion Acoff, who started for NCAA Division I semifinalist Creighton for three seasons, ...
Transfers, former U.S. U-17 keeper highlight classes    
[MEN'S RECRUITS] Teams began releasing the names of players who signed letters of intent to play ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NCCAA Men's Division III All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Mt. San Antonio's Alfredo Ontiveros, the 2011 NSCAA Men's Junior College Division III Player of ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NCJAA Men's Division I All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Darton's Diego Ramos, the 2011 NSCAA Men's Junior College Division I Player of the Year, ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NCCAA Men's Division II All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Junior goalkeeper Anthony Derosse (Clearwaer Christian) earned his third honor on the 2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NCCAA Men's Division I All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Senior forward David Dunlop (Greenville) and junior defender Andrew Webster (Mid America Christian) earned repeat ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NAIA Men's All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Derek Prinz (Hastings), Joseph Omondi (Bethel, Tenn.), Nikola Velickovic (Columbia) and Mario Vila Boa (Bethel, ...
2011 NSCAA/Continental Tires NCAA Men's Division II All-America Team    
[AWARDS] Four players from NCAA Division II champion Fort Lewis, including two-time All-America Fabian King, earned ...
>> College Soccer Reporter Archives