PALATINE, Ill. – Harper men's soccer player Alex Freeman (/St. Viator) wasn't able to play for the team last year, but that didn't mean his passion for the game waned.
"Last year he was extremely committed even though he wasn't able to play in the games," said Harper head coach Dan Klaus. "That just shows a lot about a person at his age to do that."
The Saint Viator High School grad has come out with a vengeance and shown his versatility by playing multiple positions for the Hawks. Freeman, the team's leading goal scorer, has earned the honor of the third Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2014-15 school year.
In 10 games this season, he has scored four goals, including two in a Sept. 24 game against Milwaukee Area Technical College. Freeman has done much of his damage from the center back position and only recently has seen time at forward. In the Hawks' recent 1-0 win over Madison, Freeman put constant pressure on the WolfPack defense with five shots. He then helped preserve the victory in the closing minutes of the game with tenacious defense at his center back position.
"We don't have many who don't come off the field, but he's one of them. Not a lot of players can make that transition from being a center back to being a high center forward and be dangerous there," Klaus said.
Klaus is also excited that Freeman is extremely focused, leading the team by example, and taking care of business in the classroom. Freeman feels the Hawks, who are 4-4-2 on the year, are just starting to click.
"The group of kids and coaches we have this year make soccer a lot more enjoyable. It helps that we do have a good team, and we can go far," he said.
Even though he didn't take the field last year for Harper, Klaus sees how Freeman has taken that experience and used it as a spark.
"You can see there's a little sense of urgency there that we have an opportunity and need to grasp it. Alex personifies that," Klaus said.
Freeman, who is majoring in psychology and aspires to play soccer at a four-year school someday, is grateful for his Harper experience as a whole so far.
"Harper offers a lot academically and sports-wise as well. It's been a really good opportunity for me to still stay at home and work while playing soccer and going to school."
