Hard-working. Determined. Passionate. These are some of the ways to describe Aaron Peters, captain of the varsity men’s soccer team. Peters is originally from Brampton where he attended Bramalea Secondary School. He is currently in his second year at UTM and is enrolled in the life sciences program.
It was not until the late age of 15 that Peters began playing soccer competitively. He always had a passion for it, despite starting his athletic career as a basketball player. Peters was named captain before the start of this past outdoor season—something uncommon for a second-year.
As is every athlete’s dream, Peters’ goal is to play at the professional level. He plans to pursue this dream to its full extent. He is relentless and trains every day to improve and better himself as a player. If he isn’t at soccer practice or training in the HPC with his teammates, he’s in the gym training on his own.
Peters describes himself as the most vocal member on his team. As the goalie, it is an important quality to have as he has full view of the entire pitch. He did not start out his UTM soccer career as a goalie however.
During his first year he played as a centre-back. “Being a centre-back did help. It improved my touch quite a bit,” Peters says. It also allowed him to gain perspective from a player’s point of view and not just a goalie’s.
Being a goalie is accompanied by a lot of pressure from spectators, coaches, and players. Peters explains that only through practice and experience of being in net will someone become better at managing this. Goals will be conceded. This is something that is inevitable. As Peters says, “That’s what everyone remembers us for—for all the mistakes we do. Either the mistakes or the saves. That’s it. Nothing in between.” He continues, “You’re either the hero or the villain.” As a centre-back, he knew that he would have the support of his fellow defenders or his goalie to fall back on if he made a mistake. This is not the case as a goalie; you are the last man back.
Although being a goalie comes with a lot of added pressure, Peters is thankful to have teammates that support each other. They don’t tear each other down and no one has a big ego, according to Peters. He speaks very highly of his teammates and says, “Everyone is level-headed and no one really thinks they’re the superstar of the team.” Being a member of the soccer team has definitely enhanced Peters’ university experience. Without soccer, he says he probably would not have made the friendships he did.
When asked to give advice for any newcomers entering UTM he says, “You want to make sure you have no regrets. So, make sure to join clubs, talk to people, ask that person out, do whatever.” Your years in university will go by so quickly and as Peters says, “Have no regrets and make sure to live in the moment.”
