Woojin Shin is a junior from San Jose, California, and previously attended Bellarmine College Prep. Shin recently scored an important equalizer with about five minutes left in regulation in a tight, overtime win against Eastern University on September 11. This was his third goal in the past three games: he also netted the winner vs. Penn State Abington and a goal vs. Widener University. Shin looks to continue his run of form against Dickinson College on September 21 here at Clothier Field.
Neel Gupta: Tell us a bit about yourself, your major, your interests outside of soccer, etc.
Woojin Shin: I am a junior from San Jose, California and pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. I enjoy hanging out with my close friends, watching my favorite professional sports teams play, and spending time with family. An essential part of my family is my miniature poodle, Sora, who we all love and care for very much.
NG: How was your team’s weekend trip to the Poconos?
WS: It was an amazing opportunity that helped create an environment that pushed our tightly knit and supportive group. Our former assistant coach Eric Savage graciously hosted us, and this past weekend was filled with banter, ping pong, and gatorade. We could not have asked for a better weekend and will continue to grow and bond together as the season progresses.
NG: What did the Eastern win mean to you and the team?
A: That was a big-time win and will only provide confidence leading into our future games. The lads grinded through the awful heat and battled out ’til double OT. Going down 0-1 was crushing at first, but our unrelenting pressure and energy could not be matched. All props to the boys that provided impactful minutes throughout the game.
NG: How has the transition to being an upperclassman and all the leadership responsibility that comes with it gone?
A: The transition from underclassman to upperclassman has gone pretty well. From freshman year, there has been a lot of academic and athletic challenges that I had to overcome. But from these challenges, the experience I received has been impactful and has been used to help the freshmen get through their first semester/year. The freshmen will be playing a large and impactful role for us this season and the upcoming seasons, so whatever advice we have for them will only benefit the team and the freshmen’s college journey.
NG: How optimistic are you about the upcoming season, and how is this year’s team different from ones in the past?
WS: I am very optimistic and cannot wait to see this team perform down the stretch. This team has worked harder than before this past spring and summer and it will definitely pay off in the long run. The offseason work has resulted in massive improvements in our fitness, physicality, and mental strength. Also, our team has definitely gotten much closer and we would do anything for each other on the field, but the season is still long and we have a lot of work to do to reach our goals.
