There’s a first time for everything, and for Zac Conlogue, that first time was on Sept. 9, against SUNY-Cobleskill.
A Farmington native and senior midfielder on the Castleton State College men’s soccer team, that day in Cobleskill, N.Y., Conlogue missed a penalty kick for the first time he can remember,
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“I’ve been taking penalty kicks since sixth grade,” Conlogue said. “That’s the first one I missed. The goalie made a nice save.”
That one play will be a small footnote in what’s been a strong college soccer career for Conlogue. With his senior season nearing an end, Conlogue has 11 goals and two assists in his career with the Spartans. This season, Conlogue has four goals, and is tied for third on the team in scoring. Conlogue has played in 13 of Castleton’s 15 games this season, starting three.
In Conlogue’s time at Castleton, the Spartans are 47-27-5.
“His contribution hasn’t always been on the field. He brings it every day,” Castleton head coach John Werner said. “The thing you can’t miss with Zac is what a good member of the team he is. He doesn’t hang his head if he’s not on the pitch.”
Conlogue said being good teammate was one of his goals when he started playing college soccer.
“Taking pride in something. Being a part of something,” Conlogue said. “It’s been a good time here. We haven’t won a championship, but we’ve had some great teams.”
Conlogue consistently has one of the top shooting percentages on the Spartans. This season, he’s scored on four of his 12 shots. As a junior, Conlogue scored on six of 22 shots, including a pair of goals in Castleton’s 5-3 loss to Albertus Magnus in the ECAC tournament last season.
“He’s got a knack for being in the right place,” Werner said. “If he were faster, he’d be the best player around.”
Since arriving at Castleton in 2009, Conlogue has seen his strength as his biggest physical improvement. His mental approach is better too, Conlogue said.
“Overall, I just have a lot more confidence out there,” Conlogue said. “On penalty kicks, I know I’m going to score. To me, it’s all confidence.”
With two games left in the regular season, the Spartans are 9-6-0, but a pair of losses this past weekend at Husson and Maine Maritime dropped them to 3-4-0 in the North Atlantic Conference.
“We’ve outplayed every team. We’re just not finishing,” Conlogue said.
Added Werner: “We’ve struggled to finish a little. We’re in the hunt. We’re a good team.”
Conlogue chose Castleton for its physical education program and to play for Werner. He’ll soon begin his student teaching, but he hopes when his playing time is complete in a few weeks, it doesn’t mean the end of his time with Castleton men’s soccer.
“I would like to be a graduate assistant (coach) at Castleton next season,” Conlogue said.
Travis Lazarczyk – 861-9242
tlazarczyk@mainetoday.com
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