Alba Cherishes His Final Season at Marquette
10/7/2019 10:25:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The senior from Waukesha, Wis. ranks second on the team in points and goals
MILWAUKEE- A native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, senior midfielder Connor Alba has been a model of consistency for the Marquette men's soccer program. He's scored 13 goals in his career while tallying 10 points in each of his first three seasons.
His durability has been impressive, never missing a game in his three-plus years at MU. His hard work and production paid off last year when he earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors as a junior after scoring four goals and dishing out two assists. So far in 2019, he's second on the team with two goals scored and six total points.
When Alba began playing soccer at the age of four, his parents just thought would be a good way for him to get out of the house to burn energy all the energy he had.
"I had no idea that soccer would evolve into a passion that transformed my life like it has," Alba said. "I was just a kid who loved playing the game and having fun with my friends. I'm just so happy it led to this great opportunity of playing at Marquette."
Alba committed to MU in the fall of his sophomore year of high school, stating his love for the campus, coaching staff and program for the reasons he stayed committed through a couple different assistant coach departures.
When arriving on campus and getting started with the program, Alba's goal as a freshman was simply to play well and do his best, just trying to play his role and earn playing time and make an impact on the field. Along the course of his journey as a student-athlete at MU, he figured out there was much more responsibility on his plate than just showing up and playing games.
"Over time I just realized the kind of impact we have as student-athletes on the little kids that look up to us and watch us play," Alba said. "They watch our every move, follow us on social media. It's important to set an example and represent the program and university in the best way we can."
One of his biggest goals going forward on the field is to push the Golden Eagles to heights they haven't reached since he's been on campus, which involved winning a BIG EAST title and getting the team back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
"Our goal as a team this year is to try to win as many games as we can," he said. "I don't want to leave here without winning a BIG EAST championship, whether that's in the regular season or the tournament. Either of those would be a fantastic way to end the season."
After almost four years as a soccer player at Marquette, Alba has went through 'a lot of ups and downs,' but he wouldn't have it any other way. He'll always appreciate the relationships he's formed with his coaches, teammates, support staff and other student-athletes at MU.
"You just have to embrace all the little things. Results will not always go your way and you just have to be able to move on after the good and bad while trying to keep a smile on your face. I always try to remember that it's the same game I fell in love with when I was a little kid," Alba said.
Alba and the Golden Eagles return to action tomorrow night at Valley Fields against Green Bay at 7:05 p.m.
Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).
His durability has been impressive, never missing a game in his three-plus years at MU. His hard work and production paid off last year when he earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors as a junior after scoring four goals and dishing out two assists. So far in 2019, he's second on the team with two goals scored and six total points.
86'| Connor Alba SCORES!!! The senior out of Waukesha puts the Golden Eagles up with a fantastic strike to put his team ahead late on the road.
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 19, 2019
〽️- 1
😼- 0 pic.twitter.com/KY17gINTOP
When Alba began playing soccer at the age of four, his parents just thought would be a good way for him to get out of the house to burn energy all the energy he had.
"I had no idea that soccer would evolve into a passion that transformed my life like it has," Alba said. "I was just a kid who loved playing the game and having fun with my friends. I'm just so happy it led to this great opportunity of playing at Marquette."
Alba committed to MU in the fall of his sophomore year of high school, stating his love for the campus, coaching staff and program for the reasons he stayed committed through a couple different assistant coach departures.
When arriving on campus and getting started with the program, Alba's goal as a freshman was simply to play well and do his best, just trying to play his role and earn playing time and make an impact on the field. Along the course of his journey as a student-athlete at MU, he figured out there was much more responsibility on his plate than just showing up and playing games.
"Over time I just realized the kind of impact we have as student-athletes on the little kids that look up to us and watch us play," Alba said. "They watch our every move, follow us on social media. It's important to set an example and represent the program and university in the best way we can."
One of his biggest goals going forward on the field is to push the Golden Eagles to heights they haven't reached since he's been on campus, which involved winning a BIG EAST title and getting the team back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
"Our goal as a team this year is to try to win as many games as we can," he said. "I don't want to leave here without winning a BIG EAST championship, whether that's in the regular season or the tournament. Either of those would be a fantastic way to end the season."
After almost four years as a soccer player at Marquette, Alba has went through 'a lot of ups and downs,' but he wouldn't have it any other way. He'll always appreciate the relationships he's formed with his coaches, teammates, support staff and other student-athletes at MU.
"You just have to embrace all the little things. Results will not always go your way and you just have to be able to move on after the good and bad while trying to keep a smile on your face. I always try to remember that it's the same game I fell in love with when I was a little kid," Alba said.
Alba and the Golden Eagles return to action tomorrow night at Valley Fields against Green Bay at 7:05 p.m.
Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).
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