I love the game and am so thankful for the platform and opportunities it has awarded me. Getting drafted into the MLS in the 2004 Superdraft was a dream come true!

I soon realized that this dream could turn into a nightmare if the right perspective isn’t adopted.

I came from being the top dog in college to a small fish in a large talent pool in the pros. Sitting on the bench with the New England Revolution in ’04 and ’05 was devastating for me. This killed my confidence and nearly sucked my passion for the sport dry.

I was blessed that I was living in Massachusetts, near my family and friends who offered amazing support and distraction to help me overcome the initial challenges of pro soccer. I was also able to mature as a pro by dealing with the business of the game, learning from the examples of veterans and developing the character to sustain the adversity. Those challenging initial seasons helped me realize my identity apart from just being a “soccer player” and put things into a well-ordered perspective.