Ten Questions With Paul Chase

Nov. 8, 2001

1. What does it mean to you to wear a Boston College uniform?
Well it took a long time for me to be able to wear a Boston College uniform. I started my college soccer career at rival Providence College. I decided to transfer to Boston College but unfortunately had to take a year off in the process. So this year when I finally got to put on the jersey it felt awesome. I have grown up around BC all my life and now that I am finally here it is kind of like a dream come true. Last year, knowing that I was heading to BC in the fall, I can remember checking up on the team weekly hoping that they had won their last game just wishing that I could be a part of it. Now that I am finally a part of it I couldn't ask for anything more.

2. What is your favorite soccer memory?
My favorite soccer memory would have to be earlier this year in practice when our team was scrimmaging each other. There was this one play where Gabe Margolis had me pinned in the corner and I managed to get out of the corner by "megging" Gaber. Now for those of you who don't know what "megging" means, it means that I put the ball through Gabe's legs and really made him look foolish. Right after I megged Gaber, I looked up and saw Adam Pfeifer sprinting straight at me so I cut the ball away from him and he continued on and ran right into Gaber. They both fell to the ground and our whole team was laughing in hysterics.

3. What makes soccer such an appealing sport to play?
Soccer is appealing to me because I have played all my life and have always had positive experience while playing. The best part of my day is always when I am playing soccer. Soccer has the ability to make me the happiest person on earth or the most upset. I love the challenges that it brings, every game brings something new to the table, whether I have to look out for a really good player on the other team or if I get to attack more one game. There is always something going on making me think and being on my toes. It's just an amazing game with no boring moments.

4. Who's the toughest player you've ever played against?
Well the toughest players I have ever played against would have to be Casey Schmidt and Joey Worthen (who attends The University of South Carolina). I played with them this year while we played with the Cape Cod Crusaders. Those two kids together made a very lethal combination up top and when we played against each other in practice they were very tough to defend. Casey is just a natural born goal scorer and Joey has this amazing ability to create goals and also put them in the back of the net. There was always something to worry about when you were playing against them. They were just awesome to watch when we were playing this summer. Oh yeah, Ryan Stocking is also a very good player as well, I wouldn't want to leave him out. Hahaha. He also plays for the University of South Carolina. He is a very good defender and lots of fun to play with.

5. What's your favorite place to go to in Boston and why?
I can't really say that I have a single favorite place in Boston. I mean there are so many amazing places to go I can't really pick a favorite. There is the North End for amazing food, Newbury Street for shopping, Faneuil Hall for shopping and taking walks. The public Gardens, and Boston Common, I mean the opportunities are endless and I am excited about my three years here at BC to explore Boston and have the time of my life.

6. What is something people do not know about you? I would have to say that the one thing that people don't know about me is that I am very fast. Everyday at practice Martin Cantillo and I are made fun of for supposedly how slow we are. Now I assure you that I am very fast and if anyone thinks different of this than I will be happy to race you. (Especially you Zach). Now I can't guarantee that Martin would beat anyone but I know that he is fast. The one advantage Martin and I have is that we know how to use our angles to make up for maybe a step or two. So anyone who wants to race, you know where to find me!

7. Who on the team surprised people this season?
A few people come to mind when I think of surprise. Coming into the season I knew that players like Casey Schmidt, Billy Arnault, Guy Melonhead, and Chris Cleary would show up everyday and give it there all. These guys are so reliable and you can't replace guys like them. However the one player that has exceeded everyone's expectations is Pat Haggerty. He has stepped in the center of defense and has done a fabulous job. I enjoy playing beside him and have confidence that he will be there to back me up. He is a great kid and I think that he is only going to get better and better and that means trouble for the other BIG EAST Teams. I also have to say that my warm up partner, Gabe Margolis, has done an amazing job this year. He is without a doubt a player that shows up everyday in practice and does the business. When I saw that he was going to get his first appearance in his college career against Brown I was so excited. I think maybe even more excited than he was. Gaber is a great player and you couldn't ask for anything more from him, except for maybe that he doesn't always try and rhyme.

8. What does the team's emergence as a national power in the past year mean to you?
The one word that comes to mind when I think of BC soccer is "exciting". In the last year and a half our team has been being recognized nation wide as one of the best teams in the country. I am truly honored to be a part of this team and to get the chance to be around the guys on this team. I am very excited for the postseason this year to see what kind of damage we can do and in the years to come. I know we are only going to get better and that really makes me happy.

9. What do you think the teams greatest strengths are?
I think that our team's greatest strengths are that we have an amazing ability to come back in games. There have been a few times this season when our backs were against the wall and we stuck together and managed to pull it off. I think that we are faced with the same challenge this weekend when we head to St. Johns for our quarterfinal match of the BIG EAST tournament. We have been on a little bit of a down slide lately but I believe with all my heart that we are going to pull it together and get that victory that we all want so badly. Its going to take hard work and we are gonna have to leave everything we have on the field. Our team definitely has the ability to do it and I know we are gonna make it happen.

10. What is the best advice you've ever been given and by who in what situation?
When I think of the best advice I have been given a few names come to mind, especially my father, mother, and past soccer coaches. Now I can't think of one piece of advice that sticks out in my mind but if I combined a few then this is what I would come up with. It's that you always have to believe in yourself. They told me that I have to believe that I am a good player, that I have to believe that I will play a good game and do my job during the game. That is the one thing that I tell myself before each and every game is that I am a good player and that I play for a good team. As long as my teammates and I go out there and do everything possible to win and believe in ourselves than there is nothing else you can ask for. That is the best advice I have ever been given.

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