Welcome to Episode #14 of the Because Football Podcast presented by Transform Soccer.
Our guest is Dane Jacomen, professional goalkeeper for Loudoun United of the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States.
As a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dane grew up as a multi-sport athlete. His first experience as a goalkeeper was only because his travel team coach volunteered him because he was "a baseball guy". As each year moved forward, Dane's vision and goals grew bigger and bigger, eventually leading him to join the DC United Academy and then the University of Pennsylvania, where he played Division 1 soccer in the Ivy League under Head Coach Brian Gill.
This is a great episode for young goalkeepers and youth soccer parents. Dane shares how his parents supported him by putting him in front of good people, but weren't overly pushy or controlling during his youth years. Dane was heavily influenced by former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, and gives a great account of why all young players should have a soccer role model to strive to emulate.
He also shares insight into what makes a great team and how a goalkeeper can compete with his fellow teammates while also supporting and wanting the best for them. Besides playing at Penn, Dane shares his experiences playing during the summers for USL 2 side West Chester United and influential coach Blaise Santangelo and how his time with one of the country's top amateur programs helped his skills and passion for the game to grow.
Dane also shares ways that aspiring goalkeepers can improve on their own and the importance of doing physical training to prepare for the demanding role of goalkeeping at the highest levels.
And Dane gives an account of one of his career highlights, making an appearance for DC United under Coach Wayne Rooney in a friendly against Bayern Munich, when Dane was able to test himself against one of the world's top teams!
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