Get to know ... Houston's Will Bruin

• by Avery Raimondo , Jun 19, 2012

[MLS RISING STAR PROFILE] Last season, the Houston Dynamo's Will Bruin, the runner-up for the 2010 Hermann Trophy and the 11th overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, burst onto the MLS scene when he notched a hat trick in only his seventh professional appearance. His goalscoring exploits, however, cooled following that dominant performance. Now in his second season, Bruin is once again potent in front of net, as he currently leads the Dynamo in goals with six goals. The 22-year-old St. Louis product answered a host of questions about moving into BBVA Compass Stadium and his off-the-field interests such as golfing and country music.

WILL BRUIN
CLUB: Houston Dynamo
POSITION: Striker
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: St. Louis, Mo.
YOUTH CLUB: Scott Gallagher Soccer Club
COLLEGE: Indiana University

BBVA COMPASS STADIUM: It's been awesome. I mean, it's only my second year here, but I know for the older guys that it's been a long time coming for them ever since they've been here in Houston. As a facility, the University of Houston wasn't the best, but now BBVA Compass is a top-of-the line stadium, with all the amenities and everything you need. They're building our own locker room and training facilities. Things are looking real good for the future.

WHY HE'S ALREADY SURPASSED HIS ROOKIE GOAL TALLY: It's probably just experience. Last year was just a huge learning year for me in general -- just the length of the year, the ups and downs, the lifestyle of only playing soccer as opposed to college where there's classes, friends ... It's just a big learning curve all around and I hit some high points and I hit some low points. And I've learned this year that you can't be too happy with the things that are going right and can't get too low if things aren't going your way. You've got to stay level-headed. And that's something I've been doing so far this year, been trying to be more consistent, and being a threat in every game.

EARLY SOCCER MEMORY: I've just really played soccer for as long as I can remember.

FIRST CLEATS: I remember wearing an early version of the [adidas] Predators in grade school and I've pretty much stuck with them all through my career.

FAVORITE TEAMS: I'm a Chelsea fan ... pretty happy to see them win the Champions League.
FAVORITE PLAYER: I'm a really big fan of [Didier] Drogba]. He's just a really good striker, a big holdup guy who can also get behind.
FAVORITE MOVIES: One thing that comes to mind a lot is "Wedding Crashers." Or "Dumb & Dumber."
FAVORITE ACTOR: I like Kevin James, but I also like Vince Vaughn. And you can never go wrong with Denzel Washington.
FAVORITE ACTRESS: I've always been a fan of Jennifer Aniston.
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: I really like "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "King of Queens." Those two and "Swamp People."

LIVING SITUATION: I have a single in downtown Houston.
ON COLLEGE SOCCER: It was awesome. My three years there in Indiana kinda molded me into the player I am now. I learned a lot in my college years. It was a lot of fun playing in a big school like Indiana with such rich history and the players that have played there. It was fun -- I am really happy with my choice to go there. The coaches at IU like Todd Yeagley really molded me into the player I am now.
ON HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: I played in St. Louis at DeSmet. I had coach Greg Vitello. He's a legend back at home; he's something like the third most winningest coach in high school soccer history. He really reminds me of Dom's [Houston coach Dominic Kinnear] coaching style ... and that's a plus for me.

MOST INFLUENTIAL COACH: I'd probably put my high school coach down, Greg Vitello.
MEMORABLE COACHING ADVICE (from youth coach): My high school coach obviously coached me in soccer, but he also taught me a lot of life lessons: like not to let success get to your head; always remain humble because you don't what the future holds; always know that whatever you do there's people watching.

HOBBIES: I love to golf a lot. I mean I'm not the best golfer in the world, but I just got new clubs so I've been hitting the course a few times. It's starting to get real hot down here in the summer so you have to bring gallons of water to hydrate. I'll play Fifa too.
MUSIC: I'm a big country fan. I fit really well down here in Texas.
READING: I'm not a big reader, more of a magazine reader than a book reader. I like to read Men's Health; whenever we travel I get the new editions and read them on the plane.
VACATION: Over the offseason I went on a cruise and really enjoyed that. I still haven't been too Hawaii yet and I still want to go there.
FAMOUS PEOPLE YOU'D INVITE TO DINNER: Jennifer Aniston and Kevin James.