Arad to continue soccer career

Not many college students have had an experience like Dori Arad. Arad, who for the past four years has been one of the most familiar faces of UConn men's soccer, will graduate May 10 and leave Storrs as one of the most popular, proud Huskies in recent memory.

While his recognizable persona on the soccer field distinguishes him from other students, his personal life is equally impressive. Arad is a native of Hahrotrim, Israel, and had to make the tough choice to leave his family, his girlfriend and his home life behind to come play soccer for one of the most renowned programs in the country.

"It was absolutely one of the most difficult decisions I've made," Arad said. "You leave everything behind that you're used to."

In the end, it was the draw of UConn that convinced him to attend college so far from home.

"I had other offers from several other schools," Arad said. "But once UConn offered me a full scholarship, I had to take it."

Arad made the transition look easy, though it was anything but.

"I'm very close with my family and that was very hard," Arad said. "Plus the English language is confusing, I don't know how you guys do it."

In his four years on the soccer team, Arad became one of the most recognizable athletes on campus. He played in 81 games, but there was one game in particular that he will always remember. On November 17, 2007, the Huskies were playing in the Big East Championship against Notre Dame. Arad picked the perfect time to score his only two goals of the season to give UConn the 2-0 victory - and the Big East crown.

As if almost single-handedly leading his team to a conference championship were not enough, he did so in front of those he left behind - his family and girlfriend. Those extra attendees, Arad said, are what made it his favorite memory, not just from his soccer career, but his entire time at UConn.

"To be able to score two goals in the Big East championship was amazing," Arad said. "I had been working hard for three years and it paid off and to have my family and my girlfriend able to come up and see it made it perfect."

Although that game nearly two years ago is the one that resonates most with Arad, his presence was felt during almost his entire tenure. While the statistics are not necessarily overwhelming (11 goals and eight assists), his contributions during his senior season led head coach Ray Reid to call Arad one of the two best players on the team after a dramatic regular season victory over Notre Dame.

It was not only on the soccer field where Arad was successful, but in the classroom as well. A nutritional science major, Arad finished his career with a 3.55 GPA and was named a Big East Academic All-Star all four years he was eligible.

Arad will miss the atmosphere that UConn soccer fans have created over the last four years.

"It was everything to me," Arad said. "It was exciting and everyone is behind you: the coaches, the goal patrol and my teammates. It was fun. It was just fun."

With graduation the next milestone for Arad, he is ready to move on, yet his future plans are still soccer-related.

"I'm going to fly home and after that I'm planning to play soccer somewhere else," Arad said. "I can't really discuss where, but I have a couple of teams to evaluate."

He has been here for two Big East Championships, a deep run in the NCAA Championship and countless memorable games, but there is one thing above all else that Arad hopes his teammates, fans and coaches will remember.

"I hope they will know that I gave everything I could every day," Arad said.

"we'll all stay in contact and we're all planning on coming back next year, so that will be the biggest thing."

Truax touches on an important point: she and the other six seniors on the team have spent practically all of the last four years together, living and breathing softball. Every day they have worked together, suffered together and played together. Now, they will play their last regular season home game ever this weekend. "I love them all," Truax said of her teammates. "We're going to have a tough time when this Saturday comes and we have to play our last game here together."

Should things fall into place, and the Huskies qualify for the Big East Tournament, this weekend won't be the end of the team's season. The Huskies could make a run for the Big East Championship and possibly beyond.

But eventually, the season will end, and the seniors will move on.

"Micah's got a great work ethic and she's a great person," said Mullins. "The thing I always tell her is be yourself, stay focused on what you want, follow your passion."