Joost Almekinders ’27 is a senior captain on the Swarthmore men’s soccer team, capping off his collegiate career with a dominant final season after injuries limited him to just three games during his junior year. Hailing from Arlington, VA, he has tallied eight goals and two assists for the Garnet this season, bringing his career total to 43 points. His return to form follows a standout sophomore campaign in 2024, when Almekinders recorded career highs in points (twenty), goals (seven), and assists (six) across seventeen appearances. He led the team in assists and finished second in both points and goals, earning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. His six assists also tied him for ninth in program history for single-season assists. Almekinders has continued to deliver in high-pressure moments this season, converting all six of his penalty kicks. When the stakes are highest, he is ready to step up to the spot. A two-time Centennial Honor Roll selection, Almekinders has made his mark on the field while pursuing a double major in applied mathematics and economics.
Aimee Lee: What was at stake against Gettysburg College this past weekend?
Joost Alemkinders ’27: Going in, we knew that we didn’t have to win, but we knew that a win would solidify our position in the playoffs. We haven’t been to the playoffs since 2023, my freshman year, so going into the game, we knew it was a big opportunity to kind of get that squared away before playing our last game of the regular season this weekend.
AL: Describe the end of the game when you heard the whistle go off. What was it like? How did you feel?
JA: To be honest, I was relieved. We were up 3-0, and then we conceded two goals in the last twenty minutes, which made the game a lot more interesting than it should have been. To be honest, we were hanging on a little bit at the end for the last ten or fifteen minutes, which was pretty stressful. So I was very relieved, and we were all very excited to have clinched the playoffs. It was a really big moment for us.
AL: Do you think there are big things tactically, formationally, or confidence-wise that the team has shifted and transformed?
JA: We’ve adapted very well to playing a new system this season. We’ve kind of all bought into that and tried to make it work, especially in the last six games. JohnPaul [D’Andrea ’28] has been playing really well, and I think a lot of the freshmen have been contributing. So it all really came together from top to bottom. We’ve gotten used to playing with each other, and our roles are kind of defined, and everybody knows what they have to do. But it’s not perfect yet. It’s not supposed to be perfect.
AL: Let’s talk about your PKs – you’re six for six. What goes through your mind when you take a penalty kick?
JA: I decide before the game where it’s gonna go. During the game, when we get the PK, Shlok Kaul ’27 usually grabs a ball, stands on the penalty spot, and then I stand on the edge of the “D.” The opposing players that usually try and throw you off, they’re gonna complain and try to throw Shlok off. Then, right before the refs kick them all out, I take the ball, walk up, and put the ball down. And I’ve already decided where I’m gonna go, so I always just take a second to breathe to relax as much as possible. Then just hit it where I decided I was gonna hit it. The biggest thing is not changing when you’re running up to the ball. I think I’ve practiced a lot, so I’m pretty confident now. It doesn’t mean you don’t get nervous, but I think, at this point, I think I know what I’m doing.
AL: Being a senior, a captain, and having played college soccer for four years now, how do you reflect on this season being your last of college?
JA: I look back, and I’m like, wow, it went by really fast. But I think this season, especially, has been very fun. My sophomore year was also very fun. I’ve been through injuries and long layoffs, so it’s been really fun to play. I think that’s why we were on the team. We come to play, and I think just being with everybody this year has been very fun. I think that’s the main thing, and obviously, I’m gonna miss playing the sport.
I really love playing football. It’s kind of sad, actually, that it’s coming to an end, that there’s like two, three weeks or more, depending on where things go. There’s only two guaranteed games left, so we want to make sure that there’s a couple more, at least.
AL: Transitioning to the watching part of soccer, what’s the football club you support?
JA: It’s different in each country. In the Netherlands, I support PSV Eindhoven.
AL: Now completely unrelated to soccer, do you have a hot take about campus? Could be anything.
JA: I would say that my hot take is that the old Essie’s is far better than the new Essie’s. The location was much more convenient.
AL: If you could teach a course in anything at Swarthmore, what would it be?
JA: Poker. I feel like I’d enjoy that. But I don’t think I should be teaching it.
