Athlete of the Week

Danny Moss, MC '01 Soccer Goalie Hometown: Arlington, VA Major: English Favorite soccer team: D.C. United Favorite Dessert: Peanut butter ice cream This past summer: Danny played soccer for an under-23 team from San Jose, CA. They won the under-23 National Championships held in Philadelphia, Penn.

"First semester of my freshman year I focused only on soccer, but during second semester I recognized a need to get involved in the local community," Moss said. "Getting involved with the mentoring program has been a big part of my Yale experience—New Haven has a lot to offer, and being a part of a community service group has enabled me to fully enjoy the Yale experience."

Moss's leadership abilities carry over into his role on the soccer team. "Danny demonstrates his exceptional leadership every day on and off the field," Head Coach Brian Tompkins said. On the field, Moss leads the team from the net, finishing last year with a 1.03 goals against average, fourth in the Ivy League. He also earned the Jack Marshall Award for team spirit and was elected captain for the 2000 season.

Leadership skills off the field recently became extremely important, as Moss tore cartilage in his knee two weeks ago during practice. He underwent surgery earlier this week and is expected to return in two or three weeks.

Filling in for Moss is freshman goalkeeper Geoff Hollington, SM '04, who recorded 11 saves in his first two Ivy League games. "Geoff is doing very well," Moss said. "If anyone should be athlete of the week, it should be him."

Despite his modesty, Moss plays an instrumental role on the team even while injured. As captain, he considers it his responsibility to ensure that there is a respectful environment in the locker room, training room, and field, as well as helping the team to maintain focus on what is important throughout the season.

"This should be a good season for us," Moss said. "We are a young team, but we have returning players with valuable NCAA experience." For Moss, the rehabilitation process is very important, as soccer has played an crucial role in his time at Yale. "I have been a to lot of different places and experienced many different things, but the team camaraderie is amazing. We are together day-to-day, and we work hard together," he said.

The Bulldogs will look for Moss's leadership from the sidelines this weekend as they host the Yale-Fila Men's Soccer Classic, which includes three nationally-ranked teams. The Bulldogs enter the tournament 1-1 and are hoping to prove their strength against the tough competition of Southwest Missouri State, Bradley, and Brown.

Photo by Julia Tiernan.

Back to Sports...