Gracie & JT Marcinkowski on Pro Soccer, Suffering a Injuries, & the Pressures of Goalkeeping

There's plenty of times in my career that I, you know, look back on like a couple months stretch. I just like was not like myself in training. I wasn't playing well. I was second-guessing everything. I was thinking of like, oh man, I hope the coaches in watching me make that mistake and like there's just, I think when those start to roll on your head, it's hard to kind of quiet those thoughts and press words. You don't really get that many chances to prove yourself. So you have to be ready and mentally prepared, physically prepared to take advantage of it. Today's guest knows what it feels like to have an entire game resting on his shoulders. He's the starting goalkeeper for the LA Galaxy and has spent nearly a decade playing professional soccer. The California native came up through the San Jose Earthquakes Academy signed a homegrown contract with the club in 2017 and ultimately joined the Galaxy in 2025. Since then, he's had some massive performances in goal including a six-save clean sheet in Seattle and a Galaxy career high nine saves in a win over real salt late. At just 29, JT's career has already taken him through some pretty incredible highs and some pretty brutal lows, but through it all, he's fought his way back onto the field and back to doing what he loves most. JT, Marcin Kowski, welcome to Athletes After Hour. I appreciate it. Thank you. That was quite the intro. So yeah, super excited to be here. Awesome. I'm so stoked. You could come on. Obviously, you guys have been having a kick-ass season, so it's been really, really fun following. Getting to go to a game and see you guys live was so fun. That was actually my first ever Galaxy game. How do we do? Oh my God. You guys want first. That means you have to keep coming back. You guys crushed. I know. I think I'm a good look-charm, but obviously being friends with Raquel, like she's awesome and her husband is the president. So we got some pretty special treatment, which is pretty cool. Yeah, there you go. Those are good people to know. Good good friends to have. Good connects. Yeah. But I think also just being able to see the game from a completely different angle was so special, just because obviously they're so invested. And I always say there's nothing more special than going to a game when everyone's emotionally invested. And yeah, but I want to kind of start with a bit of an emotional one. I know you went through a pretty brutal injury and I want to hear about it. So how is how did that even happen? First of all. Yeah, so it was October of 2023. We had a friendly up in San Jose and it was just we were playing a Honduran team. They were in just for the weekend. 30 minutes in the match. It was like a nothing play. A winger kind of drove towards the end line. Kind of clipped a ball across and I went up and it was a perfect storm of as I was coming down, the forward hit me. And so it was like and it's one of those things of who knows what would happen if he didn't hit me. Like maybe I still would have hurt my knee. I've kind of thought about the scenario a million times. But it was pretty gruesome of when I went when I was coming down. He was coming into me and my knee was the first thing to hit the ground. So it wasn't like it was pretty sideways. And my immediate thought was like I've never had a real serious injury like that. Like I've had like broken fingers or dislocated this or that like nothing traumatic. Nothing like a traumatic. Yeah. Leg break or my ligaments were torn or whatnot. So I thought like I mean I was like something's just wrong. Like my whole body just like kind of went into shock. And when you look down to your legs kind of sticking the other direction. It's not like the most fun sight to see. Yeah, I could imagine. And so the trainers came out, the doctor came out. They were able to kind of put it back where everything should be. And like once they did that, I was able to like take a breath. I'm okay. And the last thing I wanted to do was get stretcher it off the field just because I hate the side of that. I hate when my teammates have to go through that or you kind of see it on TV. And it's I think it makes the entire stadium like feel even worse about it. So my whole thing was like I just want to be able to get up and walk off because I was like I don't want to you know have my families in the stands. My girlfriend who turned my fiancee now my wife was in the stands. Like every buddy who was there like support when loving me and supporting me. I didn't want to have them see me on a stretcher. Yeah. So I was able to do that. Get back to the locker room. You want to know. Yeah. I was able to lock up. The grace of God. Yeah, like I definitely had some support. Yeah. So I wasn't like fully on my own. But that was a pretty big deal for me because I was like I just don't want to be the guy get stretcher it off. Got back in the locker room. Talk to the doctor. If he started doing all like the manual test and he was like well here's the thing I can move your knee kind of you're like everywhere where it shouldn't be. But like we'll see the MRI tomorrow like you never know like maybe like grace of God it's fine. Yeah. But I think having that instant sort of realization like oh this is bad. Like this isn't just your everyday injury like I was able to kind of mentally process and like go through that night before the MRI the next day and kind of like collect my thoughts and be like alright this is going to be a longer term rehab. But hopefully I think with the people around me in the sport I have like I'll be able to get through it and there's definitely some some lows along the way. There's definitely some days. I was like I don't think I'll ever be the same again. But here we are. I know there's nothing worse than when you have the injury and the first and like initial instinct is like your entire career floss for your eyes and you're like okay is this going to be my like my future. Right. This is what my life is going to be like from now on. And I tore my Achilles so like I know like I sat there. I remember like just being so confused and anxious about what my life was going to look like. Right. Athletically. So when you got the bad news that you were going to have to have surgery and you were going to have a long right like rehab. What did that feel like for you? I was almost naive to it like because I never went through anything before. So I never like experience the longer term like nine to twelve month recovery. I was just like all right like just go out at every day and we'll see what happens. I'll be back in nine months. It's kind of my thinking like I hear nine to twelve months and I was immediately like oh I'll be back in nine. Great. Yeah. But I didn't appreciate and realize like what steps I was going to have to take to get back to where I wanted to get to. Yeah. But at the same time I think that was kind of nice because I didn't know I didn't know what I would feel like. I didn't know like I didn't know like what the process was going to be like. Yeah. I'm super fortunate that so three weeks before three or four weeks before I get injured the club hired a PT full time rather than it being consulted out. And so her name is Marie Boo and she became literally everything. So as Marie and my wife Chloe like them to I couldn't be where I am without those two. Yeah. I think within like the year of from I think November 1st is when I had surgery to November 1st and next year I saw Marie like 250 times or something like that. Yeah. Like it was just nonstop. She came like a second mom. Yeah. She would come over to my place. She would come over wherever like Chloe and I needed her like she was there. Like every day probably six days a week I was doing some sort of PT with her. And so I think it's like one of those things of if she was never hired like who knows what would have happened. And there's like the timing of it all. So and unfortunately my dad's a PT and my brother's athletic trainers like it's very much in my family like the rehab process. So I was hearing a lot of different opinions and kind of I would always have somebody to talk to of hey I'm feeling this or like is this right or is this what my knee should be feeling like. And a lot of times like people like yeah like yeah you'll figure it out like there isn't necessarily like a like a blueprint. Yeah because everybody's body is different. And I think that was also one of the hardest part was like sometimes people just don't know like sometimes like you're feeling a pain or you're feeling of your knee swollen and there's not necessarily a reason why but you just have to keep doing what you're doing and progressing and like I think the the hardest part about a rehab and you know is like it doesn't change overnight like your day to day feels like the exact same but the the month after month is like oh yeah like a month ago I felt way worse than to do now even though I feel the exact same every day. So I think realizing that and I mean it wasn't I didn't realize it right away by any means like the first three months were really difficult but eventually I started to feel progress and I think when I was able to start to jog and you're able to I was able to get my gloves back on and like having those milestones were like really huge. That's awesome. Yeah and obviously you were playing for the earthquakes for a really long time leading up to this injury. How many years were you playing before you got that was my sixth year. Okay. There were you playing consistently like years leading up so my first two years I didn't really play much I would play with the second team which was based out of Reno. Okay. So I'd fly back and forth up there and then starting my third season I kind of became the starter. Nice. Then I was the starter for the rest of the year all of 21 all of 22 and then 2023 I was splitting with another guy they brought in. So I played I think 13 or 14 games that year. Okay. And then the friendly was like towards the end of the year and then I didn't play at all 24. I was going to say because your normal was playing and being you know the guy that they counted on and that you are obviously an integral part of the team. How did it feel having to go through an entire season where you weren't able to play at all. Yeah it was weird. Like it was just because you're a part of the team but not really like I was so much fighting my own battle and I have like focus. Yeah. All of my energy on my rehab and all of it like I didn't think I could do both in a way which I was so used to. I was so used to being a part of team and being like in the locker room and being on a way trips and like experiencing those that highs and lows of being a professional athlete. But my like soul focus was just like how do I how do I get out of bed the next morning and like go do rehab for the next six hours and then come back and then do it over again. So that was the it was really hard not being a part of the team. I think I found my new team in a way with Marie with my wife like they became such an integral part of everything I did on a day to day basis especially early on like I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't shower. I couldn't do anything on my own. Yeah, you really have to lean on me. Yeah, so yeah, like I they had it my wife had to drive me every day of the facility and pick me up and then she was carrying the ice and then she was doing this. She had my crutches. We had a pillow that we carried around for my knee like everywhere we went. So it was like, yeah, it was just they became my team that I didn't have with my my normal team. Yeah. Much more of a way than of course like we're a partnership in a relationship but it was like without her I wouldn't I wouldn't be here today. So yeah, I think that those two especially kind of became my like new team. Yeah, and you guys bonded probably so much through that. Yeah, maybe a little trauma bond, but definitely trauma bond. Maybe a joke like people would say of like, oh, you don't know if you love somebody unless they have food poisoning. Yes. Like three or four months of food poisoning. No, really. That was like kind of what it was like. That's where we were. Yeah, we joked about a lot. So that's so funny. Yeah. I love that. So then obviously a lot of athletes know when you get injured, everything floods in your head. You know, am I going to be the same? What's my career going to look like now? I don't think a lot of athletes so have to really worry about where they stand, especially maybe not in collegiate sports because you're signed to contract on things. Did you expect what happened to next to happen? Not really. So it was all 224 of being signed down here is what you're talking about. Yeah. So I was out all 24 and then I was back training with the team kind of towards the end of that year. So September, October. So it was about 12 months after my injury. And I was like, felt pretty good. And then my contract ended at the end of that year. And so I, with my age and I, we started calling around other teams and tried to figure out what's next, whether it's staying in San Jose, whether it's going somewhere else and Galaxy was obviously having an amazing year. They were in the playoffs. They were playing for Amos Cup and the whole time we were kind of just like waiting our time just because you can't fully talk to a team until they're done with their season. So since Galaxy kept winning, their season wasn't done. Got it. Okay. So it was postponing this conversation. Yeah. And so the whole time I was still talking to San Jose and there were still a few other offers on the table. Yeah. But the main thing was just like waiting for Galaxy and obviously I grew up as San Jose fan. I'm from San Jose. I was a homegrown. Yeah. So Galaxy and San Jose have this the longest rivalry in the league. So it is still sort of weird sometimes of like, especially when we played them twice this year of like going back up to Stanford and playing in that game from the other side of it. It definitely felt like it was like a full circle moment. Yeah. Wait. That was the game I was at. Not the one in San, but the one here. Yeah. So it's like I. So come down here. Yeah. You used to come down here and play in the games for San Jose and it's always like the biggest game of the year for for San Jose to play Galaxy and now like on the other side of it and being able to go up there and play well and then have another game not here a month later and we win. So it was like I think not really answering your question of like how that happened, but I'm just really happy that it ended up the way it did it and like, yeah, I'm like being able to stay in California and I'm still close to home and like my my family comes down and they try to come to as many games as they can. So it's a really it's a really special place to be. So then whose decision was it was it your decision to leave or was it. Yeah. It was my decision to not. No, it was my decision of there was an offer on the table from San Jose and then there's offer on the table from Galaxy, but I think going back to the injury, I almost wanted to become like not the injured player anymore in a way and like leaving a place and like just having a fresh start was like really important to me. But mentally too like I think in the back your head, you're always like, oh, well, they may not have trust in me. Yeah. And I think some of it too was like, I think I had to trust myself because if I stayed in San Jose, I think there would always be like, I love my PT like I love Marie, but I think I would almost be going to her too much in a way of like, it's a crash. I mean, Marie, can I like do this? Yeah. Versus coming down here last year, like when I was in preseason, I'm just another guy. Like I'm just on the team. I don't forget. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I don't have the luxury of being like, oh, I'm not sure if I can do this today or I'm not sure if like my knee will be able to handle it just because it's like, they don't care down here. Like I'm just, I'm just another player on the team. Yeah. So which was really nice because that's what I wanted to be. That's where I thrive. I want to be a part of the locker and I don't want to be like the guy who's in the rehab room and on the training table, just like getting work done. Yeah. Um, it was, it was really nice to have a fresh start. Yeah, you're able to like redefine who you are as an athlete and you don't have to have that injury to find, you know, which is so cool. Yeah. I love that mindset. I thought of it like that, but I mean, I feel like I would struggle with that as well. It's just everyone knowing what happened and then you're reminded of it constantly and it's like things also like environments are triggering, right? And yeah. So. Yeah. And it's just like you never know of like, I think everything, I don't know if everything happens for a reason that's a pretty interesting quote, but I think when things do happen, you have a choice of how you react to them. And I think the, the choice that I made of reacting to my injury and like being able just to have a clean slate somewhere was, was definitely the right one. Did you ever feel like when you were going through rehab, if you would ever return back to soccer? Or did you always have soccer in the back your head? Like, I'm going to be back. Yeah. I mean, that was the goal I was shooting for, but there was definitely some days when I was leaving PT of like, I don't think my knee will ever feel the same. But at the same time, like having the, the end goal be playing and being like myself again was so helpful. But yeah, like I can remember multiple car rides. My wife picked me up and I just like lost it. Just because it's just hard. Like there's just some days that are way worse than others and some days that you've, I felt great. But yeah, those, those tough days where we're, we're definitely challenging. So you fought really bad. You got your contract with Galaxy. What was the day like when you officially signed? We were, we were sitting actually with one of my old, old San Jose teammates and his soon to be wife and there was a four of us and we were sitting, we were like kind of grabbing sandwiches up in San Jose and I get the email like, hey, we're all good. And it was like, oh, wow, like this is actually happening. It was like a little way to say like, yeah, like one of the biggest teams. It's kind of hell. Yeah, it's funny like because I knew it was going to happen, but like there was definitely a waiting game because it was also during the holidays our off season is during, during Christmas. So there was like things kind of move at a different pace during that time. And I think it was either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. I officially like totally signed. So that was a really good way to start the year out. It was a great way to start the year. Oh my gosh. It was cool, but yeah, we were just like sitting in a, like kind of in like it's park and we were just hanging out and then finally get the email just kind of out of the blue. And I was like, all right, I guess, I guess we're moving now like, I guess we should start looking at apartments. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy town. Yeah. So then when you signed, obviously like, what did you expect versus how it is now, like how different is it? Wow. Good question. Um, I think the perception of galaxy outside looking in is that it's this massive club that it's been the most successful in the league. It's they've had the biggest stars versus what I was used to in San Jose was kind of this smaller club. We were more of the, you know, we always try to punch above our weight. And so I think coming down here, there's a real standard of excellence that I didn't experience in San Jose of like when you walk in the building, there's this, you look around, you see six MLS cups, you see all the trophies, all the supporters shields, all the people who have played here, the David Beckins, the Lannan Donovan's, Les Lottans, Robbie Kean, all these people. And I think when you wear that galaxy jersey, like you kind of feel the weight of it. Wow. That's cool. So I think I didn't totally know that until I was here and I experienced it the first day of like walking in and be like, all right, this is my new locker room versus like, I was used to coming down and playing in the stadium as no way, as no way player. You're trying to like fight for as much as you can, you scrap away for a win. But down here, it's just a, I think when you live and breathe it on a day to day basis, you've kind of feel the weight of the jersey a little bit more. That's so insane. Yeah. I love that you said a standard of excellence. Yeah. I think that's the most like incredible way to embody a properly like insanely good program. But also it's such an honor that you get to experience that. Yeah. Totally. Obviously, your role on the team is already a very high pressure job. And then on top of that, obviously being at one of the best programs as well as high pressure, how do you deal with pressure? I don't know. I love it. I love the idea. of the pressure. I mean, I don't know about thrive, but I try to fake it to you make it. Yeah. There you go. I think I just always love the idea of being like the last line of defense. And like if I make mistake, then more often than not, there's a goal that goes in. So it's like, I think you like that. I think in a way I enjoy it just because of like it feels like a lot of responsibility. Yeah. Like it feels like the things that I do for the team like matter. So obviously as a keeper, like, I could not be involved for 85 minutes of the game. And then you have to come up with a big save out of nowhere and like either keep the team in it or maintain a one no lead or whatever it may be. So I think having that responsibility is like a really, it's a really cool part of the of the job. Yeah. I mean, you can't say you're not important. That's for sure. Yeah. I think, I think depends who you ask. I think some people kind of put us to the way. So I would just find like I don't really, I don't mind like I don't mind the, I don't need the like satisfaction or the outside gratification of it all. I think I think goalkeepers kind of tend to thrive in the shadows. I mean, tend to thrive is like the, you know, the un applauded hero in a way. And I think that's that's kind of nice. Yeah. That is really cool. What made you choose being a goal the over all the other positions? So I played baseball and basketball growing up. So I was very used to using my hands and kind of my, I have two older brothers and older sisters. We were always just playing sports. Like whatever it was, we were outside playing sports. And so I kind of tended to gravitate when I was really young to throwing the gloves on for whatever reason. I think I like just diving around. Yeah. And then when I was eight, I was trying out for like the U-9 team, the first like competitive team. Yeah. And so there was no goalie tryouts. I was just a field player. I was, and I didn't make the team because I wasn't very good as a field player. I didn't make the team. No, I didn't make the team. And so then my old, my coaches from the year before talked to the coach and they needed a goalie and they're just given a chance. Like, let them go out and play a tournament with the team. And I played, I guess I played well. I remember like one moment from that, but besides that I have no idea how I actually played. Yeah. But then from then on out, I was on the team. I never took the gloves off again. I was like, I'm meant to play goalie. This is what I like to do. Yeah. Yeah. And I continue to play baseball and basketball. And even like in baseball, like I liked diving around and making defensive plays. And it's pretty similar to going a wildlife and a lot of ways. Yeah. That was a short stop. And as a keeper, like, it's a lot of lateral movements. But I think a lot of times people that have complained to have a baseball, it's so boring. Like, guys are standing around and not doing anything. And like, well, I kind of just stand around as a keeper. Anyways, so yeah, that's kind of the same. Like, that's kind of what I'm used to. So I think I just kind of they went hand in hand. I was going to say I feel like I'd have a really hard time staying like mentally locked in by standing around that much. Yeah. It's a lot of like tricking my brain to like stay in it. So whether it's communicating to the guys in front of me, whether it's like thinking through scenarios, especially as a younger keeper. Like when I was growing up, you kind of like the joke, right? Is like you look at the other side of the field and the keeper is like looking at the grass in the ground or picking the flowers. Yeah, whatever it is, like doing cartwheels. And I think the key is is like being able to stay mentally focused for 90 minutes. And like, when I walk off the field after games, I'm not like physically tired. It's like not like in training, it's physically tiring of for diving around where we're working on whatever it is. But during the game, I maybe dive five or six times. I'm with, you know, I had the ball at my feet a few times. It's not like a crazy amount of physical load. But when I walk off the field like mentally, it's you're exhausted. Yeah, just because it's 90 minutes of just like trying to stay focused and stay in the moment. And you know, there's plenty of distractions. If you like were really to glance up around you or look at the scoreboard or like I see myself up there, like, yeah, you know, there's always like these other things that I could be thinking about. But I think the the key to being a really good keeper is being able to stay, stay locked in and because you never know when the team's really going to need you. Do you ever get like heckled? Like, do you ever hear white noise? I feel like if you're standing still, I would hear what? Yeah, it is when I was in college, especially like the crowds are so much less, but they're college kids. And they're saying, yeah, they're saying like God knows what and doing research on you before the game. Yeah, they're like talking about yelling your mom's name. Exactly. Like my, I remember there's one time like they were yelling out my mom's like facts number. And I like in my head, I'm like, that's not my mom's phone number, but like that's a number that I know. And I'm like, and I was like, they must have somehow found it online somewhere. But because there's only like four or five hundred of them, you can hear everything they're saying so much more clearly versus now like in the bigger stadiums. Like it is more like white noise. Yeah. Unless I walk over to the, you know, behind the goal and the fans are there and like they'll start yelling my wife's name or whatever. But yeah, a lot of it is just like, it's fun. Like that's what makes it fun is like the banter between myself and the fans. And I think if guys take it too personally, then it's like, it's, it's, it's too much. Like they're not. And I always think in my head of like, they're spending their money to come watch us play. So, you know, they're the, we're the reason why they're here. So it's like, all right, whatever you say, it doesn't really matter. I know. I remember I got heckled so bad at a gymnastics. We were competing against Utah and it's like Utah's our rivals. We always had like so many fans like sold out every time. And I was getting fully heckled at the age of 18 in a leotard by a grown man who's like, I don't know, 55, 60s. And he's like, if you, you effing loser, you guys effing lost. And I'm like, first of all, aren't we Mormon? Yeah. Right. Yeah. There's some disconnect going on. Yeah. And I'm also like, you're calling me a loser when you literally spent money to watch me compete in a leotard. Like come on. Like, I think we're projecting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's, there's some other insecurities that are happening that like, yeah, you're just forcing on. Yeah. Right. You like, you turn around and like, do we need like some trauma therapy here? What's going on? Yeah. I think we need to unpack this a little bit. But yeah, I feel like there are instances where I will for sure say like, no, it's absolutely not okay. Like, did you say that guy, the baseball player that someone like was screaming as mom's name and mom just passed for something? And I'm like, okay, there's a line. There's a, there's a line. There's a very strong boundary and a strong line where it's like, this isn't fun and games anymore. Right. Like you've taken it too far. Right. Has there been a time where that's happened to you? Not that I can think of all the time in my head, but let's go. I'm sure that people have said something. And I've just kind of like tuned it out. Yeah. Thankfully, I did like, I didn't hear so that. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I'm over there picking flowers on the ground, but he's crying in the corner. Yeah. I'm trying to think nothing that I can think of that is to the point where I was like, oh, that's that's too far. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I feel that. Speaking of like the crowd and everything, like, how do you deal with, I guess, being kind of under a microscope being on such a big stage in front of so many people all the time? Well, you put it that way. It seems a lot more, yeah, it's on. But he's going to go to bed. Yeah. So is it. Oh my god. Yeah. I think. Yeah. Right. I think the the most important thing that I would say that helps me is like, throughout the week, you prepare day after day in training to then hopefully perform at your best in the weekend. And I think being able to, you know, when I fall asleep on Friday night before the game, and I think about through the week or I think about even throughout the whole season of okay, and if my preparation, if I've done it properly and if I've done it well enough, then tomorrow is just like a bigger stage to show that. And I think if I can keep that in perspective rather than it being like, oh my god, I'm playing in front of 50,000 people, like if I make a mistake, they're all going to start chanting my name. Like you can kind of go down a rabbit hole pretty quickly. Yeah. Versus if I try just to stay within myself and I think rely on the preparation that I've had and realize, okay, the months and the years that go into each game, it's like, I'm ready for this moment. It's not like any bigger than, you know, then when I was playing, when I was 15. Like it's all I think. So you're controllable. Yeah. And I think one thing too is like, people will ask of like, what's the most nervous you've ever been before a game. And I was way more nervous playing in front of like 300 people when I was in college than like, than now because it's just like times, I think just change. And I think I get used to it and new things become normal. Right. And I get a little bit more just like trying to think of the right word. Like I remember being in college when we were playing at Maryland. And there was like, we knew there's going to be a crowd of 5,000 people there. Yeah. And it was the biggest deal ever. Like you couldn't sleep the night before. I was so nervous. Yeah. And I was just like, all the students chanting like on both sides behind the goal. I just distinct memory of like, and we ended up winning that game. It was like felt amazing. And like you go home. You're on the bus ride home. You're like, we're the best. Like this is it. Like this is my World Cup final. Yeah. And then like a year later, I'm playing in Seattle in front of 50,000 people. And I'm just as nervous. But it's like, well, the stakes are a little bit different. Yeah. And then now it's like, I look back on that Seattle game. And it's like this year when we played up there, I can remember our first year. It's like that I'm so much more comfortable. And I'm so much more like ready for the moment because I think I've had just years of preparation for it. I've had years of visualizing it and like being in those moments. So I think the, I think with experience, you're trying to get used to the pressure. Yeah. But I always say like, yeah, I was going to say, I always say like, confident comes from reps. And it's like the more reps you do, the more you convince, you know, you confirmed to yourself that you're capable of handling it. And it's like, you've handled it time and time again, so why would you start questioning it now? - Right. And I say all of this, but I still get like nervous for games, and I still want to throw up before games. - Yeah, like I still get like, there's still like the back part of my brain, and it's like, well, what if you messed up today? - The intrusive thoughts are to slip in every day. - Yeah, like of course it happens. And I think that's actually one thing I worked through a lot during my injury was I was able to work with the therapist once a week for almost two years. - That's awesome. - Yeah, and that was a massive part of like my psyche, was just like those intrusive thoughts become so much louder and so much clearer when you're going through a rehab, of like, you're never gonna come back, your knees never gonna feel the same. And it was just like, I think being able to one, name the intrusive thoughts, and like being able to recognize them, and like, all right, I hear you, but I'm just like not gonna pay attention to you. And I think having that experience has almost helped me now that I'm back on the field of like being able to prepare for games rather than that voice being so loud. It's the, I think the confident voice and like the voice of, hey, you've done this a million times. Hey, you've had a great week of training. Hey, you can make amazing saves. Let's focus more on that versus, okay, what happens is the ball slips through your hands this weekend. Like there's always, because there's always that, that reality. And of course it's gonna happen. Like mistakes happen during games, mistakes happen to any player, but I think as goalkeeper you're a little bit more highlighted. Yeah, but I also think there's something to say about the fact that you're like living the dream at the same time, you know? I think it's easy to like, obviously feel like you're crumbling out of the pressure. You have really high intense weeks. But then it's like, if you love what you do and you're passionate about it and you know that you've earned your spot, like you're living the fucking dream at the same time. Right, yeah. Two things can exist at once, you know? Yeah, totally. And I think if, when people lose sight of that, I think it kind of, it can deteriorate pretty quickly. I think you can kind of succumb to the pressure of it all very quickly when you think this is like the end of the world or you think there's no way I can get out of this or if I'm not playing this weekend, it's because I'm a terrible player. But it's like-- But all your worth gets put on one thing. Yeah, and I think that's the harsh reality of pro sports is we're judged off of our performances or we're judged off of how we do on the weekend. And sometimes you feel like your entire worth is based off of that. And sometimes there's nothing you can do. It's somebody else's decision that if you're going to play or not. So I think when you, I don't know, if you put so much stake and so much value in it, I think that's when it can kind of snowball effect pretty quick. Have you seen any teammates that have gone through that? Unfortunately, yeah, like it happens almost like every year. Or it could happen, I mean, I think about myself. Like there's plenty of times in my career that I look back on like a couple months stretch of. I just was not like myself. In training, I wasn't playing well. I was, you know, second guessing everything. I was thinking of like, oh man, I hope the coaches are watching me make that mistake. And like there's this-- I think when those start to roll on your head, it's hard to kind of quiet those thoughts. But there's been plenty of teammates I've witnessed who talent wise are amazing. I've got to teach hearts. Yeah, she's like confidence, or it's right timing, or it's right opportunity that I think right when maybe there-- they get that opportunity. They aren't at the right time to exploit it. And they are at the right time to sort of take advantage of that opportunity and in pro sports, you don't really get that many chances to prove yourself. Yeah. How have you stepped into now kind of-- Well, I guess maybe have you stepped into a leadership role since being in pro sports now for almost 10 years? Yeah, I still think of myself not really as like the old guy. But then I look around-- Yeah, then you look around and it's like, oh man, I kind of amolder than a lot of these guys. You're like, why am I limping out of practice and everyone else is fine? But I've always been-- I've always gravitated more towards the leadership positions in general, like growing up. I was tend to be one of the captains on the team or attended to-- I just liked being in like the vocal leader. Yeah. You do have a very calm presence about you as well. Yeah, I think that's good. Yeah. And I try to stay as level headed as I can. But I don't know. I think the with experience comes different perspectives. And I think being able to maybe give some advice to the younger guys has been like, it's a really cool thing because I had so much advice that was given to me by everybody throughout my career, even before then, of the goalkeeper coaches I had growing up. And the former pros I used to be around-- I used to idolize these people. And they were like, take time out of their day and take time out of whatever their week to give me a phone call or do a training session with me. So I think I would almost be doing those people to service if I wasn't doing the same thing for the younger guys now. Yeah, I'm going to carry the torch a little bit. Yeah, and I try to keep that in mind. And I still look at the guys on my team who are the older, veteran guys of Marco Royce or Maya Shita. These guys have played in World Cups. They've played in Champions League finals. They've played in all over Europe. And it's like, man, now I'm peers with them. And I would be an idiot not to take advantage of hearing what they have to say or asking them of, hey, what did you feel like during that game? Or like, hey, Maya, are you still nervous before games? It's like you've played over 700 in your career. Like how do you get prepared and how do you stay mentally sharp at your age to be ready to play weekend week out? Like it's, I'll be dumb not to use those as a resource. Oh my god, yeah, it's literally like the most wisdom you could probably have access to. Totally. You can't ask Chachabee T about that stuff. Right. Or like, yeah, they would just agree with whatever you have to say. Whereas these guys are like, I think the biggest thing in that I learned of being around pros and older guys who've played them for a long time, they want to give you advice. They want to like, share their experiences. Like, so there is a guy up in San Jose, Chris Wandelowski, who's a San Jose earthquakes legend, played in a national team, played in the World Cup. And he went through some really hard times in his career. And I think being able to like talk with him and like, just have him share like what that was like was it's so fascinating because from the outside looking and you kind of think you know. And then when you really hear it from him, it's like, that's nothing when I thought you were going to say. You're like, what you're actually going through. And he's somebody we grew up in the same hometown. We went to the same high school. Like, so we have a lot of similarities. And I remember my rookie year, he used to bring me to training a few times. I thought it was like the coolest thing in the world. Of like hopping in like Wando's car. I was like, this is so sick. Like this guy just been the world or like was on the World Cup team trying to qualify for the World Cup. And here I am just like sharing a morning coffee with them. Like, this is like, this is so cool. That's real. Yeah. Yeah, and like, what a cool like, it's like a big brother moment. Yeah. And you know too, you're like, you don't have to do this. Right. But the fact that they want to, and they want to take you under their wing and they see potential in you. Like that, to me, I think would be like the biggest confidence boost you could ask for. Totally. And I think it's, yeah, like you said, like them taking time out of their day to help you is, then if you don't take advantage of that, it's like, all right, come on. They're giving it to you. Like, they want to help you. And so I try to think of that same thing now of being in my ninth year and like talking to a rookie year like, hey, you had a tougher training or I could see you were frustrated. Like, let's just like talk about, hey, why? Like, why did you do that or why were you thinking that? Or like, hey, this is what you can maybe do tomorrow to improve of, you know, it's little things. I'm not telling them to not like, you know, trying to reinvent the wheel here. I just like, you're opening up conversation, I think. And that's what, I mean, I think men struggle with the most when it comes to like, understanding one another. It's very easy to judge from the outside. But when you open up conversations and you create a space for someone to be vulnerable, right? It's like, like you said, when the guy was struggling, you would have had no idea. You could have easily judged him from the outside looking in and then like, oh, his life is so great. He's making millions of dollars. He's thriving, blah, blah, blah. And when you go through shit, you are like, why am I struggling so much? His life seems so great. And then you realize it's not. He's just tough. He's got great. And you're like, OK, there's light at the end of the tunnel here. I could make it out. I am OK. I can push through because my idol did, you know? And I think that's the best part of being in the locker room. I think that's when guys retire, I think they always say they miss the locker room. The most, it's more than any game, more than any-- or more than the money, I miss the guys in the locker room. And I think that's part of it is like you're able to be vulnerable with 30 other guys. And you always have somebody at your back. And they always have people who are supporting you. And I think that with pro sports, guys always funneling out. There's always new teammates, guys leave, guys come in, guys get traded. Yeah. But I think just being a part of a team and being part of a locker room that is like, you go through the trials and tribulations of like, you're in a way game. I think about this year, like, we're away at a Mexican team to Luca. There's 30,000 fans yelling as loud as they possibly can. You walk out, you think you're in this buzz saw. And you walk back in, and you're like, man, these are like 11 guys who I just went to quote unquote war with. And it's like, you have that shared experience now. And then you get to go in the next day and do it all over again. And we played in Austin two days later. And it's like, I think having those week in, week out is just like a really cool thing to be a part of. And I think that's when people always ask me like, What's the best part about being a pro? It's like the guys. that you meet in the relationships that you're able to sustain over your career and then even post-career. It's like, I think about the friends I have and the guys who are out my wedding. It's like, these are some of my best friends I was able to play with. - Yeah, they're like brothers. - Yeah. - And I think too, you'll never, ever have something where every single person in that room knows exactly what you're feeling. - Yeah. - Do you know what I mean? There's something so empowering and powerful about that where it's like, there's so many things that you can kind of like not say. - Right. - But everyone knows how you're feeling. - And I think some of it too is like, the outside noise. People from the outside think they know what's going on. - Yeah. - But they don't necessarily, like, they don't see us on a day-to-day basis. - Yeah. - Where says the guys in the locker room and the guys who are like, really in the trenches with you? - Yeah. - It's like, man, like, a lot of it is just, you don't have to, it's unspoken. Because we know what's going on. We know how we're feeling. We know what's really happening and it's like, it doesn't really matter what they say. - Yeah. - I think the best teams and best cultures are the ones that are able to insulate themselves from the outside noise and really take advantage of that culture and the grit you're able to establish, the ability to fight through struggles and fight through like the ups and downs of it all. - It builds armor. - Yeah. - Yeah, 'cause we used to, we had a team that won a national championship and we could not have been a stronger bubble. Like we called it the Bruin Bubble because there was a lot of outside noise. Like we had athletes going viral. We had a lot of news outlets. We had a lot of things going on around us and I remember kind of getting to us a little bit and then all of a sudden we were like, no, like we need to come together. Like we got to protect ourselves because at the end of the day, like none of this noise matters. - Right. - It's how we feel, it's how we communicate. It's what we do. And yeah, I feel like as a pro, it's like probably even stronger because you guys spend so much more time together. There's a lot more writing on it, a lot more investment in it. It's also all you have versus in college, you have school, you have social friends, you have things outside of that. And yeah, I guess for you, like I'm curious, how do you have balance when your whole life is pro soccer right now? - That's a good question. You should ask my wife more so than me. - Yeah, we go through it. We'll see that. - I think balance is like a tough thing for me because like I love playing. And I'm so obsessed with playing. - I'm an all in person, yeah. - But at the same time, I used to live with some guys up in San Jose. We were roommates. And we truly talked about soccer all the time. Like it was like our life. - You lived with teammates. - Yeah, and so, and it was so fun. Like it was so fun to be with them all the time. But when we first started dating at the time, she would come in, so she was living in New York and she would come and stay with me for a few weeks. And after maybe like the second or third time, she was like, do you realize all you guys talk about is soccer of like, and like not, obviously that's an exaggeration. But like we went to training all day, we were together. We would come home, we would talk about training. Then we would eat together and be like, hey, what about like this for tomorrow? Or did you guys see this around the league? Or did you, and she was like-- - You guys will play FIFA? - Yeah, like it was just non-stop. - Yeah. - And so, versus now, like I feel like I'm better suited and able to kind of like separate it a little bit more. - Yeah. - And I think it's-- - She probably gets sick of it, so. - Yeah, no, I don't know. - Well, you said she's a soccer fan though. - Yeah. - So maybe she does kind of scratch that edge for you. - Yeah. - Yeah. - But in a less aggressive sense. She is like the most supportive person ever, so I don't think you'd tell me if you got sick of it either. - Yeah. - But I think just being able to have a little bit more separation and being like, once I leave training, like that training happened. And I think what can happen when you're with teammates or when you start talking about it is similar to before of like, you could start to spiral. - Yeah. - Of-- - Oh, man, I made this mistake during training. That's probably whatever you're also thinking about. That's probably what the coaches are thinking about. - Oh my god, don't even get me to-- - You know, like it's just-- - The worst feeling in the world. - It's all these things that happen. It's like, nobody's thinking about it. - Nobody's thinking about it. Also, like at the end of the day, like the coaches are not going to bed thinking about it. - Yeah. - Like, maybe they watch during film. Like, oh man, he should have done better. And that's it. That's all that needs to be said. Versus before, when I didn't have like that, the separation is like, I'm now thinking about all the time of like, man, I should have done this during training or should have done that or like, I shouldn't have let that ball go in where it's like, nobody's thinking about it. - Yeah. - And so I'm just causing myself more problems and like more stress for no reason. - When you're focusing on the negative, and then the negative will continue to follow you. - Yeah. - And I still do it sometimes. Like, I still catch myself, but like, man, just relax. It was one goal during training. It doesn't matter. - Not that deep. - Not that deep. Like, it's really not. And so even like, or after the games, it's like, I can, I look back at the film. And it's, I think, it's important to review. And it's important to realize like the mistakes that were made because you can not, no game ever is perfect. - There's always room to grow. - Yeah, so-- - But to look at it with less of a critical lens. - Yeah, and I think to grow from it, rather than like beat myself up, beat myself up over it, it's been like an important and like impactful change that I've tried to make or trying to make currently. - I love that. I actually never really thought of like the separation between the two of 'cause I'm a very, very critical person. And I struggle so much with like, same meanings to myself. But it's true, like if you just shift the narrative a little bit, change the verbiage, like, you could be going from beating yourself down to lifting yourself up. And a very, very quick sets, you know? - Right. - So that's really rad that you said that I like that. I think a lot of athletes can totally relate to that as well. 'Cause it's so easy to shift into negative because we're protecting ourselves, right? We want to grow, we want to be better, but it's like at what cost, why are we, you know, it's almost your self-satisfaction, your combating, everything that you've worked so hard to build. - Yeah, and I think the biggest thing as well is like the outside noise too, of like when I make mistakes, then I have 25 people on Instagram, telling me what they say, right? And so, and like being able to read those and be like, oh, it's funny. But also at the same time, like when I play well, you can't read all those and be like, I'm the man. Like that, there's two sides of the coin there, like. - Yes. - You can't all of a sudden avoid all the criticism, but then take in all the praise. Like I think it's really important to have a balance of, it's okay. Like I think it's, be asked when the guys are like, I never read social media, like ever to read it. - Yeah. - I think it's okay to like, to recognize that, or else you're almost like shying away from the reality. - Yes. - But you're also reading it when you do really, really well. - Yeah. - But like also, I think what I try to keep in the back of my mind of like, you only take it, what is it like? - You only take advice from people. - Well, I always say-- - You should only take criticism from people who would give you advice. - Yeah, whatever it may be. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - And I think trying to keep that in the back of my mind is really important to like, the random Instagram person or random Twitter person like. - They don't know you. - Yeah, they don't know me. - Yeah. - I think sometimes what they're saying could be right, or sometimes what they're saying could be horribly wrong. - Yeah. - But like, whatever they are saying, you can't take much stake in it. - Yeah. - So good or bad? - Yeah, I always say I don't take criticism from people I wouldn't want as much lives with. - Yeah, that's, yeah, that's perfect way to put it. - Yeah. And also I just, I think it's, there's something really beautiful in the fact that you and I cannot relate to people that would criticize others just blatantly. Like, I would never just go up to a stranger and like criticize that or say some like nasty things to them. And so it's like, how cool is it that like, we're just not the same. - Yeah. - Like, we can't relate, you know? - Yeah, that's a good way to put it. - I can't relate to you. And so therefore, I, your noise. - You're taking it higher? - Yeah. And, yeah, of course, negative comments can get to you. And like, obviously being in social media, like, I see it all the time. Like, I'm literally going viral right now. And it's a lot of noise. But I think at the end of the day, like, I know who I am. I know I stand for. And if you work on that and you know your identity enough, like, nothing will shake that. And you keep your, you know, you sit your circle close. - Right. - And you obviously have a great support system. - Right. And I think it's important to realize, like, nobody's perfect. Like, I'm sure that you read so many comments. You're like, yeah, man, like, yeah, like it sucks. - I tried after meets, oh my God. - Yeah, like it sucks sometimes. But then you're like, yeah. Then it's like, you kind of realize, all right. It's not that bad. Like, there's a lot worse things that could happen. It's like, perspective at all. And it's like at the same, in the same way of like, these people are going to watch us play or perform or whatever. It's like, they're still going Instagram and writing about us. Because we are the ones out there. And it's like the idea of, I mean, this is like, so cliche of like the man and the arena sort of mentality. - 100%. - It's like, they're only critiquing you because we are out there. And we are the ones doing it. And we are the ones performing. So it's like, if you keep that in mind, it's, there's worse things in the world. - Yeah, you're like, I kind of like being the star, actually. - Yeah, like it. - This isn't too bad. - Yeah, it's not bad. - Awesome. Well, I want to shift gears into what we're looking for in the future. Obviously, you guys have a kick ass season. You guys are crushing it right now. How are you feeling going into post season? - Yeah, it's kind of the final stretch of eight games here. So it's, we're just, we're fighting for playoffs, we're right on the edge of it. And I think with, we've had a lot of changes that have happened this summer. Brought new guys in. And I think our teams in a really good spot right now to make a run. And I think you want to be playing your best at the end of the season and going into the post season. So if we're able to do that, I would love where we're at. I think like anything, you have to take it to game my game. - Yeah. - I think when, if we try to look at all eight games at once, it can seem daunting. But we play in Minnesota this weekend. And then it's like just focus on the Minnesota game. Just take it, this is the first of eight games. This is the, the only one that's important is the, is this specific one. And then I think when after those eight games and you look back, you can kind of see where it all shakes out. But. being able to do to do that and keep it just one game at a time is is the most important thing. Yeah, and then what do you think about the future of your career? That's a good question. I think when I was younger I was like I want to play until I'm 45. I never want to stop playing. Yeah, like just keep going and going going. I think in reality the more I play the more that I realize. Yeah, like yeah, it's kind of some days I feel better than others but but also like I think about how I'm feeling now versus how I felt four years ago. I'm like I think I feel better now. Yeah, so I don't know. I I love playing and I always think that when if it feels like a job then that's kind of like a sign. That's your time. Yeah, I had a guy ask me my first year. It was probably six months in the season. He goes like does it feel like a job yet? And I was like no it doesn't feel like a job like I'm playing soccer. And he was like oh, I get well. I get well soon. And I was like all right. And I'm nine years almost 10 years in. I'm like I definitely doesn't feel like a job. Yeah, so it's like I think being able to to keep that in mind and like I'm playing soccer for a living like I'm getting to live out my dream. I'm getting to play in front of thousands of people and I'm getting to make an impact and use my platform for good and things that I care about and you know maybe people who don't have the voice it's like that's really cool. And I think keeping that in mind like makes me want to keep playing forever. Yeah, because being able to you know put a smile on like a kid's face when I sign an autograph. It's like that's the good stuff. Yeah, that's the stuff that I think people don't think about when they're thinking about pro sports. Yeah. They think about yeah, I don't know the wins in the the wards and all that. But it's like the money. Yeah, but like I being able to put yourself back in your six-year-old shoes of like when I used to go to games and like beg to get an autograph. And then you now like it do the same thing it's like that's really cool. Like that's a cool thing. It literally takes like two seconds to make someone's like entire year. Yeah, like why would you not do that? Yeah, so and like being able to meet the people that I get to meet on a daily basis has been like it's an amazing part of the job which isn't a job. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, hobby that I get to be paid for. Yeah, very well paid hobby. Yeah, so yeah, I love it. I mean, I always say I'm like getting the opportunity to be reminded of the impact is like such a cool thing. Obviously a my job like a lot of my stuff is virtual. It's online. So it doesn't really hit the same like getting to have like that in person like one-on-one moment with a kid or another athlete or even a parent who's like thank you so much like you inspired my kid to start playing or keep playing or whatever it's just like I wouldn't trade those moments for the world and that's why I do this and that's why I love this job job. Yeah, it makes all like the critiques you hear on Instagram like they kind of fade away really quickly when you realize like the actual impact you're making on somebody or like the the value that you're adding to their life it's like this is really cool. Yeah, and you mentioned using your platform for good and making an impact. How do you plan to do that? So I've been pretty involved with a lot of different special Olympics organizations that have been yeah, so I started up in Northern California in 20. It's something that my mom and I would really try to do when I was younger but like unfortunately anything it's hard to find the right time for it and then in 2021 like right during COVID the people up in Northern California special Olympics they had a program with the San Jose earthquakes and so I started working with them more and more and like being able to go to events and being able to and then actually start running events and I sat on their board up there and like that was a really cool time and I think I was able to transition down here and like they have amazing people down here and yeah, they have a the unified program which is special Olympic athletes with able-bodied teenagers and they're able to play so each I think almost every MLS team does a majority of MLS teams have a unified team so being able to be a part of that has been like I always say like that's perspective like the story I have was in 2022 at a tough game we tied RSL and they scored a late goal and I was so frustrated sitting in locker room and then that was the same night that they were having the unified game and it's like I walk back out after 20 minutes of like sulking in my locker yeah and then it's like seeing their faces when they step on that field and like there's a hundred people in stands eight they think they're playing the World Cup final and it's like this is the coolest thing in the world like it's it's total perspective and it's like the the impact that we can make is as athletes I think sometimes gets lost and like sometimes you don't think about it and then you experience something like that and you experience like the joy that the game can bring them and just like the inclusivity of it all is yeah it's like this is what this is what it's really all about yeah reminds me what sports is all about yeah it's like the inclusive nature of it all and the the impact of just like just like showing up I think that's that's something that I've realized throughout my careers that like just showing up makes a really big impact on people and I think just putting a little bit of effort in and like putting a little bit more time into something it's not like huge grand gestures it's just like I think being there for other other people and just like being able to you know promote something that you care about is really cool yeah that's why platforms are so powerful yeah that's really cool you're using it for good I love that yeah definitely try to use it much more for good than that so that's that's been a really cool part of of being a pro that's awesome well I want to quickly go into the little last segment here it is called dear athlete I just give the younger generation some advice oh wow all right so first question is when you let a goal in or make a mistake do you how do you mentally reset when you don't have the luxury of leaving the field and processing it I think the the idea of having a short-term memory is like one of the most important qualities for goalkeepers yeah right like they've had Lasso but like it's true like when you when you make a mistake it's like you can dwell on it and then another mistake happens and then another mistake happens I think having that short-term memory is is key and I everybody does their own way like I've I've worked with performance coaches that some guys go over to their water and they spray water on the face or there's you clap your hands a couple of times yeah okay that's interesting or you just think about it like in a mental ways but I've gotten better with that throughout my career and I think my look back on my rookie year and during training I let a goal in and all the sudden it's like another ball is going pass already and there's now we're down to nil yeah but the the idea of yeah having the goal fish memory yeah I think for me it's like there's no such thing as failure you're just trying and that's a win so just remembering like putting into perspective of like I'm just grateful I can move my body and do this thing there you go it's just simplify as you can yeah it's so easy like you said to go down like a rabbit hole and you know get in the nitty-gritty details of like why things aren't going your way but it's like now we're focusing on the bad yeah and I always try to look for the good yeah and I would say one thing of the like I've learned in pro sports is that like athletically and physically like guys are so similar like there isn't that much of a difference but the biggest difference is like the mental and the confidence yes give me that extra edge yeah like confidence means everything in our world and I think it means everything for everybody but I think when you walk into a room and like what you were talking about earlier and if you prepared in the right way and you're confident going in it's like that's what really separates the good from the great yes 100% all right second question I made a mistake that cost my team the game and I can't stop replaying it my head how do I move on I'm still trying to find the answer yeah like you know what let me know when you figure it out I don't know I think what I said earlier of like I think it's okay to watch it back and I think it's okay wait to realize what you did wrong yeah or let go talk to somebody like go go up to the coach and be like hey this happened why do you think it happened yeah and then if they give you some advice or they give you like some some criticism there's somebody who you should take criticism from there's somebody who've been in your shoes and I think having those people that you can you can trust and be vulnerable with is super important so that way it's not not just all on your own head and then you're spattering and being like I'm suck at terrible like you know I go keeper and whatnot but in reality it's like oh no you should have just like instead of diving off your left foot you should have dove off your right foot and then you would have saved it so it's like it could be like a really quick easy fix that you maybe you are so blinded by because you're so frustrated by the goal that you didn't even realize yeah I always say before you judge be curious Ted Lasso there you go yeah so it's like when you're so quick to judge yourself or others be curious try your best to be empathetic with others but also with yourself give yourself some grace like your human being and like you said like ask questions like that's what being curious is it's just like why did I do this or how did this happen and how can I improve and then you have that growth mindset okay last one I'm terrified that one injury could take away everything I've worked my entire life or how do I deal with that fear how do I deal with that fear I think the well I guess post injury I think one of the most important things of when you're coming back is being able to get over that hump and like being able to get over the the mental maybe block that you might have from the injury yeah just not being able to trust your body yeah yeah I think injuries are unfortunately a part of sports like you look around and you look you watch an NFL game you watch NBA game what MLS game whatever it is dies getting yeah people get injured but I think the The response from that injury is the most important thing. I think Patrick Maholam was last night. He tore his ACL, tore his ACL, nine months ago and he was playing again. And that's just like hard work. It's just like really getting after it and nobody's gonna do the work for you. And I think that's the biggest thing about any sort of rehab. Whether it's a little muscle injury, whether it's a bigger injury is like, you have to do it all. Like you have to put in the work to get back. - Yeah. - No matter how many different modalities or different treatments or needles or massages, like you're still the one who has to grind day in, day out. It's mentally as exhausting as it physically, but the reward of being back and be able to play again is like makes it all worth it. Like it makes 1,000% the bad days worth the good days of when like one last story I guess I have of that is the first shooting drill I was back in. So it was like 10 months after my injury, I was back in. And it was like after training, guys were dead. I was like so excited to put my gloves back on for the first time and like be and like dive around. And then they, my teammates at the time like gave me a pause and I'm like, this made it all worth it. Like I remember sitting back on the bench and nobody else was around. Maybe my PT was there in the goalkeeper coach, but like head in the towel being like, man, like these 10 months sucked, but like that five minutes of being able like dive around and like forget about my knee for a second was like that made it all worth it. Yeah, so I think trying. Yeah, I trying to keep the light at the end of the tunnel is really important. Yeah, I always say kind of fake it to you make it in a way. Like when you do have that injury, yes, like it kind of becomes a part of you. It becomes your identity. You have scars, you have things that mind you. Forget it when you're trying to get back, but remember that it always gave you character. And I think like that's what sport and also just living is all about like, what's the point of living if you didn't work for it and you didn't grind for it? Like I think the victors are so much sweeter when you know that you put in that time to get to that peak. And it's like that moment of you just shooting like on a normal practice day would have been nothing. Yeah, 100%. But now it's a core memory. Because of all of the grit and grind that you put in to get to that point. Yeah, 100%. And I think it's made you a phenomenal player and it's made you tougher and it's made you more resilient. And to me, those are characteristics that you can't buy. You can't just adapt to. You kind of have to go through the trenches to get them. So yeah, 1000%. And I think it's okay to like injuries are gonna happen. Like you're most likely if you have a long career of any sort, whether it's, you're just playing when you're young. Like you're gonna be injured. Like it's, that's the reality. But it's like how you respond from that injury is like far more important and far more impactful than the injury itself. Yeah. Look at that, spitting so much wisdom. Yeah, something like that, I don't know. It's almost like you played 10 years a pro, whatever. Well, thank you so much for coming on. I'm so excited to see what you guys do this season. Prank y'all hope to play as well. Amazing. And I'll see you guys next Wednesday. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)