.png&type=webp){kind=icon}
.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Q&A With Mike DeSantis
November 13, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2006
Q: What do you enjoy most about UMass?
A: Basically the friends that I have here, and the soccer team. We are all really close, and have a lot of fun together on and off the field.
Q: What is your most memorable moment in soccer?
A: I would probably say winning the State Championship in high school. We were in Division III and ended up playing Brownfield at Worcester State College.
Q: What goal do you wish to accomplish this season?
A: I'm still hoping on making the A-10 tournament, and that's our main goal. The other goal is to just get better as a team for next year.
Q: Is there anyone that you look up to and why?
A: I say I look up to our goalie, Zack Simmons. He's a good leader, great overall kid, good student. I think that he makes the team much better together and makes everyone much closer.
Q: Do you have any superstitions or specific pre-game rituals you have to complete?
A: I always listen to my iPod and not really talk to anyone. I just zone in on the game.
Q: What kind of music do you typically listen to before games?
A: Basically everything, but mostly rap and hard rock.
Q: Outside of sports what is your greatest accomplishment?
A: I would say graduating high school with good grades and being on the honor roll.
Q: How does your sophomore year compare to your freshman year?
A: Just having experience in the second year is very key. I'm more comfortable and more confident and much better as a player.
Q: How is it having your brother on the same team as you again?
A: He's great and we get along. We could always use better players and it kind of helps because we know how we both play so we help each other out on the field. You can always get too much of one person, so we do our own thing but we still see each other a lot and are good friends.
Q: Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
A: I would always like to play a semi-pro. Right now I'm undecided, but I'm trying to get into Hospitality and Tourism Management and I would probably like to work at a business or eventually own a business. I hope I will be able to keep soccer in my life and play even if just for fun. I think it would be great to coach at any level, but if I could get a college job that would be nice.
Q: What made you choose UMass over every other school?
A: Basically the school itself, it didn't really have anything to do about soccer. I like the campus, the education and the atmosphere.
Q: What team were you hoping would win the World Cup this summer?
A: I was rooting for Italy.
Q: What team do you look forward to playing the most?
A: I would say Rhode Island just because they are rivals and I haven't beat them yet, but I don't really like them.
Q: What's one piece of advice you have for other student-athletes coming into college that you wish someone told you?
A: To work hard and give it some time if you don't like it at first because it's going to be hard. Just stick with it and you'll enjoy it.
Q: Do you think it's harder to be a student-athlete as far as time-management and getting school work done is concerned?
A: Yeah it definitely is. You have to be hard working so I'm tired a lot of the time, so I don't feel like doing work and push back everything, but I enjoy it. However, having study hall really helps me.
