A Matador Minute With Junior Goalkeeper Kevin Guppy
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A Matador Minute With Junior Goalkeeper Kevin Guppy
Nearing the end of his junior season, Kevin Guppy sat down with the media relations staff to discuss future plans, leadership, and the 2007 season. Guppy is on the tail end of another record-setting season, having established all-time records with 21.5 shutouts and 60 matches in goal.
Guppy has started every match for the third time in his career and is looking forward to a senior year that may set him as one of the top keepers in Northridge history. Guppy hopes to continue his soccer career beyond CSUN, but has also set an example in the classroom and is on the cusp of a degree in Sociology.
Despite the classroom prowess, Guppy still needed help from an old teammate to get through this test.
Q: Do you remember the first time you thought, "I think I can be a pretty good goalie?"
A: Pretty much the first time I started playing goalie... I was like nine years old and I was playing pretty well, so I just kind of stuck with it. I started off as a center midfielder believe it or not... if I was still playing there I probably wouldn't be playing soccer, that's for sure.
Q: What would you be doing now if you'd never picked up a soccer ball?
A: I'd probably be playing football or hockey, or maybe be playing the drums. That's really my other big passion in life, playing the drums, so I'd like to be in a band or something like that.
Q: What were your goals when you first arrived on campus as a freshman?
A: Just not to screw up, basically! I was pretty nervous coming in my freshman year, but as it got going, I knew I could do it. From there it was Big West titles, national championships... and I'm still working for those goals.
Q: What was it like to come in as a freshman and really have an opportunity to start that first year?
A: Like I say, I was nervous, but once I got into the flow of things... it was still tough, but...
Derek Hanks: He had a good defense in front of him!
(laughing)...yeah, I had a good defense in front of... I had a GREAT defense in front of me, and plus the older guys helped out. Guys like Derek made it easier for me to get back in there and do the right things.
Q: What's the feeling you have when you've just completed a shutout?
A: I really don't even think about it until someone comes up and says, "Hey, great job another shutout!". After that, its pretty cool... it's always good to know that you're being recognized for something like that.
Q: How has the coaching staff helped in your personal development?
A: Well, Terry's not just a soccer coach, he teaches lots of things in life. We know that he's been through a lot of the same things we go through. Juan, as a player he's taken the skills that I already have and tweaked them, refined them. They all keep me practicing hard and getting better.
Q: What are your aspirations beyond your Northridge career?
A: Obviously I'd like to go pro somewhere and be able to give back to the university. But if that doesn't work out, I'm planning on being a firefighter. I'm studying criminal justice and that's option two... the subject was interesting, and maybe somewhere down the line it'll cross paths with firefighting.
Q: On the lighter side... Do you have any habits or superstitions before a game or while you're on the field?
A: If something goes right, like we in a game, I try to do the same things and think about, "What did I do before that last game?". Nothing really out there, though.
Q: What's your favorite place to play on the road... your favorite environment?
A: Santa Barbara. There or any other place that's known for being a tough place to play... I just like the big time arenas and the stadiums. The fans at a place like Santa Barbara are fun to play in front of, and we get a pretty good following out there, too. It's back and forth with the fans, and it just adds to the whole atmosphere of the place... it's fun.
Q: What fills up your head when an opponent is lining up a penalty kick?
A: Oh, jeez... I'm probably still mad at the ref for one thing, but really I'm just trying to focus on different things I've learned along the way to try to make a good guess and dive the right way. There's certain things that guys will give tip help you pick up on what they're trying to do. Where a guy looks, or which way his hips are turned, or how he's lined up on the ball... but you try to play games with them as well. Sometimes I'll start a little bit off-center so they're looking at a big side of the goal and then you end up diving that way. It doesn't always work out.
Q: As a captain, how do you keep the team focused in a season like this one has been?
A: You know, I'm not really a big vocal leader, so I try to do things by setting an example and let some of the other guys do a lot of the talking. Some of the younger guys, like Rafa, Rafa does a lot of the pumping up, and Devin, he's pretty vocal some of the time as well. Everyone kind of adds their little things here and there, I just I kind of hang out in the back and focus on what’s next.
For your reference, "Terry" refers to head coach Terry Davila, and "Juan" refers to goalie coach Juan Plascencia. "Rafa" refers to freshman midfielder Rafael Garcia, and "Devin" refers to junior Devin Deldo.
Derek Hanks was a teammate of Kevin's in 2005 and 2006 and currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the CSUN women's soccer program.
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