Justin Neerhof

Men’s Soccer - Ready for Anything

by Timothy Mckernan (Courtesy of Voices)

Seamus McFadden smiles at the memory. As his team warms up before practice, McFadden, the only head coach in the history of USD men’s soccer, recalls his first impression of goalie Justin Neerhof. “He was a tall, skinny kid, all arms and legs,” McFadden says. “I used to call him Bambi, because sometimes he didn’t look very sure on his feet. I thought he had great potential, but he was nowhere near realizing it. He’s come a long way.”

To say the least. Neerhof last season was named to the first-team All-West Coast Conference, and his 0.73 goals-against average ranked seventh in the nation as USD racked up a 16-2-2 record and a third consecutive WCC championship. In the biggest of those victories, a 1-0 overtime win over UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tourn-ament, Neerhof recorded seven saves. But the 22-year-old psychology major shrugs off his impressive statistics. “It’s a team game,” he says. “You defend with every player on the field. There are a lot of shots our opponents don’t get to take because our defenders are doing their jobs. I just try to stay alert and be ready for anything.”

Actually, Neerhof’s job is to be ready for every-thing. A soccer goalie serves as an on-field coach, directing the offense and the defense. Neerhof, a goalie since his youth soccer days, enjoys the responsibility. “It helps me stay mentally involved in the rhythm of the game,” he says. “Since goalies can see the whole field, we’re in a better postion than field players to notice and react to the things opponents do, and to communicate with the whole team. I do a lot of yelling during a game.” Neerhof’s execution of the mental demands of his position is what most impresses his coach.

Although the 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete is blessed with the raw physical tools for the position, McFadden says Neerhof made himself into one of the college game’s elite goalkeepers. “He’s developed into a great player, but I can’t take credit for that,” the coach says. “He’s worked extremely hard and has become quite a student of the game. Before a match we go over the strengths and weaknesses of our opponent, and he absorbs it very well. He’s one of those rare players who can think and do at the same time.”