It takes courage to stand at the back of the field alone, bearing the weight of an entire team’s hopes and expectations on your shoulders. As the only player who can use their hands, they are the last line of defense and the first to be looked at when things go wrong. But, for UMass Boston men’s soccer team’s goalkeeper JJ Devine, courage is second nature, and he thrives under pressure.
Devine’s earliest memory of soccer is from second grade. “When I first started playing, it was second grade. I had never really played a sport before, and one of my friends, the team that they played for ended up being down a couple people, so one of their parents ended up calling my mom to see if I could play, and at that time I was just trying on new things,” said Devine.
What started as a call to fill up space in a team resulted in a journey of more than 10 years of soccer. Devine said, “Even though I have had highlights throughout my career in my high school I helped the team a lot, saving penalties and stuff. So, I have had highs and lows, but it has usually been an incline up. Especially since I came here. I have been training everyday.
Being a college athlete demands a lot both mentally and physically, juggling academics with early morning practices and games. It requires a lot of motivation to just show up. Devine gets his motivation from many sources. “A lot of it has to do with my parents — that’s a big motivator for me — and then just the drive to be better. And I just love all the guys I play with, couldn’t have asked for a better team, and even coaches,” he said.
His greatest strengths come from his support system. His parents contributed the most to his highest highs with their unwavering support and understanding, which were the building blocks for Devine’s confidence. Goalkeepers usually go unnoticed on the field, lost in the pool of players, but Devine made sure he left his mark on the program every single time he took over the field.
Devine strives to contribute his best to the team and tap into a leadership role by “becoming more of a leader,” he said, adding, “I think I already am, in a way, because I am older than a lot of them — the freshmen on the team like to ask me questions. But I think being more of a leader off the field by checking in with the team and how they are doing academically with classes and everything.”
His support of the team is not just limited to the field. From a tall, intimidating figure on the field, to an understanding shoulder off the field for the team, Devine takes sportsmanship and team spirit to a whole different level.
Devine unfortunately sustained an injury mid-season, causing him to miss the remainder, but he is set to return next season. The injury proved to be a heartbreaking switch to the season, and the Beacons missed his presence sorely. His passion and commitment to the sport makes him stand out.
Devine stated, “Preparing for the next season is a lot of input and output. If I just don’t do anything, then I feel a lot worse. I have been doing strength training, playing as much as I can during the summer. If I stay on top of everything, I should come back stronger.”
