Boston College Athletics
Brill Brimming With Confidence
October 07, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2005
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Injury, rehab, sidelines - these words would be unfortunate for most Boston College athletes this fall as Eagles from the volleyball court to the field hockey turf to Alumni Stadium to the Newton Campus soccer field suit up against ACC competition for the first time.
Men's soccer captain Sam Brill is no different. He knows what he is missing.
The Eagles lost an intense ACC match to the Virginia Cavaliers, 4-3, despite holding a lead late in the game. Virginia was ranked fourth in the country at the time.
Brill, a junior back, was not on the field. He was on the sidelines, watching a thrilling game, and rehabbing a sprained left ankle from the Eagles' September 11 victory over area-rival Northeastern. Yet he spoke as if he was a part of the action.
"We were down to 10 men [the Eagles lost Reuben Ayarna to red card] and it was tough to hold on to a lead like that. Virginia was just good at getting the ball down into the box and getting it into the net. We did a great job defensively, but they were a good team."
In the five games without Brill, the Eagles have allowed 10 goals. Led by Brill and experienced back Pat Haggerty '05 in 2004, the Eagles allowed ten goals all season - one of the best goals against average marks of all-time.
Yet Brill is confident in his team's abilities.
"I think this team has the capabilities to be the best team in the ACC this year," he said, "We still have five games left [in the ACC]. We can definitely still turn it around."
The Newton, Mass. native speaks from experience.
In 2004, Brill's sophomore campaign, the Eagles posted a 13-5-2 record en route to one of the best seasons in program history, the second-ranked defense in the nation, and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament - losing 1-0 to the eventual champion Indiana Hoosiers.
"It makes it harder [knowing we lost to the eventual champion]. As I look back, we lost 1-0, but if a few things went our way we could have won that game. And if we won, maybe it could have been us [winning the championship]."
The Eagles faced Big East foe UConn in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Newton Campus field. In the 60th minute of a 0-0 stalemate, Brill headed the ball past the goalie off a corner kick, and into the net.
"The UConn goal was the highlight of my career - there are no better words for it. I was coming into the NCAA tournament, which was probably the biggest game of my career. Then I got the goal - there is no better feeling."
The score was Brill's second of the season. His other tally came in a regular season match-up against Seton Hall where he scored just four minutes into the game - enough to seal victory for the Eagles.
The humble Brill recognizes the special feeling for a defensive back scoring a goal.
"I love to score. I guess I'm not very good at it - otherwise I'd be a forward. I've played defense since I was eleven years old, but its really nice to get out there for corner kicks and free kicks and get your head on the ball to try to put one in the back of the net."
While he has only done so three times in his collegiate career, having Brill in the line-up is a key factor in keeping other teams from scoring.
Earning a second-team All-Big East nod in 2004, Brill sought to repeat his success this year in the ACC. While that may no longer be possible due to his injuries, Brill knows the role he has to play.
"To be honest, I just wanted to help my team as much as I could on the defensive end. Losing Haggs [Haggerty] - with him being the main guy in the back last year - I knew that I had to step it up."
Brill also sought to help ease the transition for the remarkable 11 freshmen on this year's squad - particularly Paul Gerstenberger, who Brill believes is as good as anyone the Eagles will face. Brill is best able to do this, however, when on the field.
Brill returned from his ankle injury to play the first 20 minutes of the September 30 3-0 loss to the Duke Blue Devils. He sprained his right ankle to accompany the already weakened left ankle.
"It's going to take time for me to be 100 percent again. I'm trying to do the best I can right now - I'm in the trainer's room every day."
With two years of Big East soccer under his belt, he knows what he is missing.
"[The ACC and the Big East] doesn't even really compare. There are teams in the Big East - St. John's, Notre Dame, and UConn - which could definitely compete in the ACC. But the ACC's depth is just so much greater...there's not one game where you can relax."
While rehabbing, coach Ed Kelly has encouraged Brill and injured sophomore All-American Charlie Davies to excel academically - bettering their grades to account for an intense end to the regular season and the strenuous post-season ahead.
"He's encouraging. He wants us to come back soon, without pushing it too much."
Faced with the prospect of sitting on the sidelines during this exciting time in BC athletics, Brill will push it. Look for him on an ACC field near you.
Jay Bavishi '09
