An Underdog Story: A Sitdown With Men’s Soccer Captain Daniel Guille
By Anthony Reyna | Published by December 5, 2021
On Nov. 6, Kean’s Men’s Soccer team won a penalty shootout against Rowan to capture their 10th NJAC Championship and their first since 2010.
It was their second consecutive victory coming by way of a penalty shootout, and their Eighth consecutive game without a loss; a streak that began on Oct. 11 with a 3-0 victory over Medgar Evers College that turned the entire season around for the Cougars.
Daniel Guillen, a Fifth-year player, was given the Captain’s armband at the beginning of the season and handed the tall task of guiding a team that was ranked #7 in the conference prior to the season with 18 first-year players on the roster to their most successful season in over a decade.
Guillen would like to see the team get their fair share of recognition for their accomplishments
“Due to some of our past years, a lot of people thought nothing was going to change around here. (This season) We’ve had some beautiful victories and performances but we don’t exactly fill the stands up the same way that some of the other sports on campus do,” Guillen said.
“I really would like to see the stands packed more in the future because it gives us the motivation to play even harder for the fans.”
A major part of the team’s success can be attributed to the confidence in one another and the chemistry that they’ve developed over the course of the season.
“It all starts at practice and in the locker room. Myself, and the other captains try to implement a positive vibe, and everybody just feels confident. We know our talent, and we know how good we are. We’re going into every game just thinking that we’re unbeatable,” Guillen said.
He added that the team is especially motivated and free of doubt; an energy that is felt by every player in the program.
Daniel also offered some perspective on what it’s been like to wear the Captain’s armband in such an unprecedented time.
“It was tough in the beginning because I wasn’t able to be as active as I would have been because of Covid. Coming into this year seeing us ranked #7 and trying to get so many new players to mesh together as a unit was tough at first…but we’ve progressed so much as the season has gone on. We’ve had our bumps along the way but we always knew we were a good team and once we started clicking it was only up from there.”
Daniel and 5 of his teammates were named to the NJAC All-Conference team, all for the first time, including two first-year players in Midfielder Nikolaos Theoudoulidis and Goalkeeper Dominic Ridge. Guillen believes these are the first steps towards establishing a winning culture for years to come at Kean.
“We need to try and keep this group together, and I feel confident that this program is going to be in very good hands. Coach Falloon is amazing and really cares for his players. It may be my last year but the other two captains are still eligible to come back. After this year I think a lot of young players should have their eyes on Kean, not just because of the winning but because of our style of play.” Guillen said.
He was extremely complimentary of his teammates and they’re on field performance.
The team captains holding the trophy following their win against Rowan. Photo credit: Larry Levanti 
The Full Men’s soccer team following their penalty shootout victory over Rowan Retrieved from Kean Official Website
“We play tactically. If you come to our games and watch you’ll see, we may not always be the most talented, but we know how to move and defend well and just play together as a team. We don’t rely on just one-star player.”
Guillen is a lifelong soccer player who has competed against some of the best clubs both locally and from around the world over the course of his playing career, but for him, playing for Kean has been particularly special and emotional.
“This has been the best year for me as far as our team’s success. With some of the ways we’ve won, the penalty shootouts, the hard work, all the team bonding and spending time with one another, and just being together as a group”. Daniel said, “It just feels different”.
In spite of it all, Guillen has embraced the opportunity to play the role of underdog, but he knows that there is still much more work to be done.
“People thought we weren’t going to be good, but the journey is the best part of it all.”
Kean will begin their NCAA Tournament run against Gettysburg College on Saturday, November 13th, as they look to keep the magic of this improbable season alive.
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