As a freshman, Javier “Javi” Beltran has made quite an entrance on the men’s soccer team, and relatively early in the season. Having played midfield in all the season’s games to date, Beltran is looking to prove himself on the field this year. 

Originally from Madrid, Spain, Beltran grew up playing soccer in his hometown of Pozuelo de Alarcón, located in the middle of the country. 

“My dad used to play soccer when he was younger, and I was born with it,” said Beltran of his start to the sport. “I was six years old when I started playing. I always wanted a soccer ball for Christmas and my birthday.”

According to Beltran, the cultural involvement of soccer in Spain versus that in America is drastically different. 

“It’s so much bigger [in Spain]. It’s like every kid I know loves soccer and plays soccer,” said Beltran. “Every weekend there’s games and the streets go crazy, and things like that. It’s kind of like football here.”

During his time in Spain, Beltran played for EFMO Boadilla, a club team, before moving to America for the start of his senior year of high school. 

“It’s not hard, not difficult,” said Beltran of his transition from Spain to America. “But it’s another culture so you have to adapt. It’s hard, but it’ll be easier if you do it quicker.” 

Of his time at RWU, Beltran said he’s happy with his experience with school and soccer. 

“We have a lot of fun,” Beltran laughed. “We’ve played six games, I got two assists so far and we got two wins. I feel like we’re climbing up.”

“We had a bad time [in the beginning of the season], not just for the result but we weren’t playing good in the first three games,” Beltran said. “I feel we’re playing better and practicing better, which is the key to getting good results.” 

In terms of the future, Beltran is looking forward to earning his spot as a starter and maybe even clenching the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conference championships.