Lehigh University Athletics
A fruitful soccer season
11/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Larin’s grandparents and parents live in the town of
“At first it was tough being away from my family for so long, but I’m used to it now. I can go almost a full year without seeing my family, and I will be alright.”
Larin moved in with a surrogate family when he was in high school in
“When it came time to choose a college I wanted to go somewhere that would offer me the best education possible, along with the chance to play soccer at a competitive level. Lehigh was the place for me. My teammates have been like a second family and have made it easier in adjusting to life in college.”
Larin, who majors in bioengineering and maintains a grade point average close to 3.00 says that he always looked up to his grandfather and continues to admire his diligence and perseverance to this day. “He’s always helping me in whatever it is I choose to do,” says Larin with a smile on his face. “He’s almost 80 years old and is extremely active on the farm. He works every single day and has been successful for so many years.”
Head coach Dean Koski admires Larin’s many skills, especially his ability to adapt to different situations. “Jose is the typical student-athlete that we look for at Lehigh,” says Koski. “He obviously has quite a diverse background, and had to make an adjustment to college, but he’s done it very well and we’re pleased with how he’s doing.”
Larin’s father will inherit the farm once his grandfather feels the urge to retire, so to speak. Larin’s father will carry on the family tradition of maintaining the land and exporting the crops to various regions of the world, such as
Jose gets the opportunity to work on the farm each time he visits his family in
“It’s good to go back and spend time with my family, after not seeing them for such long stretches at a time. I look up to my grandfather and father a lot, so to see them is special,” says Larin.
“Obviously soccer is big in
As Larin and his Mountain Hawk teammates prepare for yet another berth in the Patriot League Tournament, they are focused on Friday's first round opponent: Bucknell. Lehigh is ranked in the top ten in the region and boasts the fifth best goals against average in the nation.
Yet, the team knows there is room for improvement. “We have to be more consistent when we are out there,” says Larin. “Now that we are in the postseason tournament, we'll see what can happen.”
