This past weekend, the Hopkins men’s soccer team took on the Dickinson College Red Devils at Homewood Field. Though the Red Devils managed to score the first goal, that would prove to be all that the Jays would allow. Hopkins would go on to send a flurry of shots to the net, four of which made it past the Dickinson goalie in order to close the game with an impressive win by a score of 4-1.
Two of those goals came from junior forward Jonathon Brown, a psychology major from Canandaigua, N.Y. The goals increase Brown’s scoring record to four on the season and eight for his career overall. The News-Letter reached out to Brown for his thoughts on the game as well as his experiences as a member of the soccer and track teams.
The News-Letter: Two of your four goals this year were scored against Dickinson this weekend, as well as your third assist. How were you able to make that happen this game?
Jonathon Brown: The game really opened up in the second half, and we were able to take advantage of the space that Dickinson was giving us behind their defense. I think my skill set is best suited for making those deep runs, and, when there’s more space, it’s easier for me to run onto passes. Julito [Quintana] played a couple of great balls in the second half, and I was able to get the first one across to RJ [Moore] and score the second one that played me into a one-on-one with the keeper.
N-L: How have you changed as a player since last season?
JB: I think I’m more confident and more fit than last season. Having the opportunity to walk on to the track team was huge for me, and those workouts helped a lot. Coming into this year knowing that I would pass our fitness test definitely boosted my self-esteem and encouraged me to work even harder to prove myself to the team.
N-L: You’re a dual-sport athlete, a member of the track team like you mentioned. What are the benefits of doing both? Are there any challenges you’ve experienced associated with that?
JB: Apart from the fitness aspect, I have really cherished the opportunity to be a part of such a great group of people. I really have to thank coach Shedrick [Elliott] for bringing me onto the team and for all the time he’s invested in me as a runner and as a person. I think across the board the coaching staff is fantastic, and the culture of excellence they’ve instilled is something I’m very proud to have been accepted into.
Having the support from them and over 100 incredible teammates, whether I’m on the field or on the track, is something that never fails to keep me going. I’ll admit that the workouts are difficult, and it can be tough balancing the demands of both teams, but having teammates and coaches that are so supportive and encouraging makes it all more than worthwhile.
N-L: What are you most grateful for as a member of the soccer team and why?
JB: The best part about the soccer team is that we really are a family. We play together, we eat together, we study together, and just about everyone lives with a group of teammates.
There’s a lot of great things about the program, between the passionate and incredibly knowledgeable coaching staff, supportive and generous alums, and incredible parents who always manage to provide fantastic post-game meals — regardless of how far we travel. I think all of these things have helped shape my experience of Hopkins as a whole and provided me with a sense of belonging that I cannot express enough gratitude for.
N-L: Who on the team and/or the coaching staff has impacted you the most during your time on the team?
JB: My class as a whole has really impacted me the most. In the same sense that our entire team is a family, I think of these guys as the brothers I’ve never had. Meeting them during freshman preseason got me through the transition from high school to Hopkins and made me feel at home in Baltimore. Having the opportunity to step on the field with them is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
