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By
Larry Napolitano
Coaches try to put players in positions where
they can succeed both as individuals and for the team. With
co-captain Rusty Giudici '03, it does not matter where head
men's soccer coach Elvis Comrie puts him on the field. As
long
as he is there, the Crusaders will succeed.
Giudici is one of just four players in College history to earn First Team All-Patriot
League honors twice in their careers, joining Holy Cross soccer legends Brian
Petz '96, Jake McDowell '98 and current Crusader assistant
coach Bryant Clark '99.
The interesting thing about Giudici is that he has done it in his first two years
in the Purple and White and still has two more years left in his Holy Cross career.
He became the first Holy Cross player and only the second player in Patriot League
history to win First Team accolades as a first-year student. Holy Cross has never
had a men's soccer player win
First Team All-Patriot League honors three times.
"I never thought I would have this much impact, but I am happy that I have," Giudici
says. "I knew that I had a chance, but I did not expect to start. From high school
to college is a big step up, but I knew with my athleticism I could make the
necessary adjustment. I just did not know how long it
would take."
So far, Giudici has made an incredible adjustment and has helped lead the
Crusaders' defense from his sweeper position, starting all 41 games in which
he has played. In that time, Holy Cross has lowered its goals against average
from 1.78 in 1999 to 1.06 this season, which is a key to a 3-2-1
mark.
"I knew we needed to replace Bryant Clark, and when I first saw Rusty play I
knew that he was the type of player that we needed," says head coach
Elvis Comrie. "I knew he would be a great player and have a major impact on the
League. We consider ourselves very lucky to have a player like Rusty. You are
not going to find many individuals as athletically gifted and tenacious that
come to play every day with that kind of intensity."
Giudici's instinctive play combined with his intensity makes him a force and
a true leader on and off the field.
"I am very intense during games," Giudici says. "But it is my job to try and
keep people organized in front of me. We have a lot of talent on this team, and
when we are playing well defensively it really helps us offensively. I try to
be a leader by example. I think I am a good athlete, and I try to work as hard
as I can in both practice and games. I feel that it is important for us to work
hard in all facets of the game so we can succeed
and accomplish our goals."
For Giudici, the goal is simple-win a Patriot League Tournament Championship
and advance to the NCAA Tournament. If the team is successful, this would be
a true accomplishment because Holy Cross has never competed in the NCAA Championship
in its 35-year soccer history.
"Individual awards are nice, but there is one thing that we all want to
do," he says. "We have never won the Patriot League Tournament, and that is something
that we really want to do. We have the talent. We just need to work hard and
things will fall into place for us."
It is every soccer player's dream to compete in the NCAA's and this is a fact
not lost on Giudici. "I have always wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament," he
says. "To be one of the top 32 teams in the nation that is still playing is a
great honor, and to lead that team would be even greater."
For Giudici, coming to the College was a great move, and something that he would
do again even though Holy Cross was not on his radar screen when he first was
looking at colleges.
"I came out to look at UMass Amherst, and Coach Comrie called me to take a look
at Holy Cross," Giudici says. "I had never really heard of the school but as
soon as I got on campus, I realized that this was where I wanted to go. And it
has been a great move for me. I came here to get a great degree and play soccer,
and I have been lucky enough to do both."
Holy Cross was just as lucky because Giudici has become the force and the glue
that have helped shape the Crusaders' success.
"Rusty has tremendous character and qualities that a coach can't teach," says
Comrie. "Having good parents is a good start, but he has the kind of character
that you wish all players had. I have always said the difference between one
player and another is the character of that player. He has earned the respect
from other coaches because of this character-which is why he has earned First
Team All-League honors each of his first two seasons. There is no doubt in my
mind that, before it is all said and done, he will go down as one of the best
players ever to play at Holy Cross."
The chemistry major has also learned a lot from Comrie. "Coach really cares about
his players on and off the field," says Giudici. "He is very intense when it
comes to soccer, and that is good because it keeps driving me harder. Coach has
really helped me broaden my horizons as a player and use my athletic ability
to the best that I can. With this team and this school, this really is a great
situation to be in."
For the Holy Cross men's soccer program, it is also a great situation because,
with a player like Giudici, the success that the team has enjoyed is sure to
continue, especially when he's on the field. .
Larry Napolitano is the coordinator of athletic media
relations at Holy Cross.
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