Christian Cruz '22 Recruiting Profile

I am Christian Cruz, and I have been playing soccer since I was 8 years old.  Funny thing is no one in my family ever played soccer before I did we always played baseball.  I tend to go all out when I have a passion for something and soccer was no exception.  From the first time I took a touch on a soccer ball at recess I was hooked.  I would watch Euro League games and sit in awe at the skill they had and how they saw the game to then go and try to imitate the best of the best moves that I saw that day.  My parents were willing to sacrifice to put me and my younger brother into a local travel team, and that is when I started to understand the game and what it takes to have success!  I went from the lowest team to the highest team and had games where I would score 3-5 goals per game (it was a lower level of competition).  I then was invited to try out for a mid level team and I made the highest team with one of my friends from school.  We had a great coach and team where we won numerous tournaments and learned what it took to work as a team.  While I continued to have success the greatest lesson it taught me was that I could do well for myself, but in soccer to have true success you have to work as a team.  After a couple of years our coach moved on and the program was shut down.  I then moved on to my current travel team Sockers F.C. Chicago.  I tried out and played U12 with the academy team for a couple of years until High School.  I have been playing for my High School Timothy Christian and once that season is over I go back to Sockers.  The training I have received has been priceless as almost every coach with Sockers has played or coached professionally!

What I bring to the table as soccer player is that I am able to control the pace of game when I am on the pitch.  One of my greatest lessons as far as within a game is that regardless if someone is bigger or faster than you if you are smarter when it comes to soccer you can success against anyone.  My mentality is always keep the ball moving.  Before receiving the ball I need to know if I am going to dribble past the defenders or move the ball back to reset and draw the defense in to start a counter attack.  I am not perfect there are times we all can make a bad decision, but the best thing I try to do is always learn from it and get the ball back.  I always watch video at home after my games in order to try and see where I could have made a better decision, pass or if I should have taken a shot.  Especially on my HS team I always try to help my teammates as far as to where to be on free kicks and corners, or throw ins.  

Every game I try to do my best to get better and grow as a leader and a soccer player.  I am looking for a program that can not just challenge me, but help me to the become the best I can be as a teammate, student and as a man!