By: Rose Lucidi
Sports Information Intern
lucidrx10@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

HUNTINGDON, Pa. This soccer season was unlike any other for the men's team. The Eagles earned their first birth into the Landmark Conference Tournament in program history, placed second in the conference tournament and earned a spot in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament. Junior Robby Higgins (Middletown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) played a huge role within the success of the program this season.

"We had such a great season this year," said Higgins. "Men's soccer has not always had best team and I think this year, with Coach Dubois getting coach of the year and all the hard work we put in as a team, we are gaining the respect we deserve."

Higgins competed in all 22 games, and finished the year tied for first on the team with goals scored and second in assists. He was also named Landmark and ECAC South offensive player of the week, and earned second team All-Landmark honors. Not only does he perform on the field, but he also performs in the classroom. Higgins has earned a spot on the Landmark Conference All-Academic team for two consecutive years.

Soccer has always been a major part of his life. He started playing at the age of five, following in his two older sisters footsteps. Going into the college search process academics, mainly math sciences, was the most important factor. He was not 100 percent positive that he wanted to continue his soccer career. That was until Coach Dan Dubios and Coach John Mumford emailed him inviting him to a recruit weekend.

"I was looking at around five other colleges and I was only able to play soccer at one of them," said Higgins. "Attending the recruit weekend was what pretty much sold me on coming to Juniata."

Higgins is studying biology, pre-med, and has hopes of attending graduate school after graduation. On top of his studies, he is also the vice president of the junior class, and a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and the Tri beta honor society. HOSA is a society for students in all areas of the health professions and encourages teamwork and cooperation. Within this society students sponsor talks by health professionals, participate in community service projects and in State Leadership Conferences.  One of Higgins' many responsibilities as vice president is to raise money for the junior class. He is doing this by organizing t-shirt and bake sales.

Being so busy with his studies, athletics, and extracurriculars, it is hard to find free time to relax. When he finds some down time, Higgins likes to relax by playing video games and hanging out with his friends.

"Playing soccer at a Division III level allows me to have the freedom of playing the sport I love and also being able to get the education I need to have a successful future," said Higgins. "Some people think Division III is a joke, but that's not the case at all. It is still a lot of hard work to be a student-athlete but it's all worth it."

Rapid fire:

Favorite band/artist?
G Ezzy 

Favorite shoes?
Nike

Favorite item in your dorm room?
Tv

One thing you couldn't go a day without?
Phone

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Albert Einstein. He was the Time Magazine person of the century. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
New Zealand.  

If you could be any animal (car, vegetable, etc.), what would you be and why?
Tiger. 

If you could be an Olympic athlete (in anything other than your sport) what would it be?
I would be Usain Bolt and be a sprinter. 

Favorite class at JC?
Organic Chemistry One. 

Favorite place in Huntingdon?
Peace Chapel. 

Favorite Juniata Tradition?
Pig Roast.

Favorite athletic experience at JC?
I have two favorite athletic experiences. The first is attending the men's volleyball games, and the second is beating Catholic University to get into Landmark Conference playoffs. 

If you could trade places with one JC athlete, who would it be and why?
Eric McCarthy. Volleyball has a great team and he is always happy.


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