NCAA Division III Week Profiles: Men's Soccer's Drew Phillips

Throughout the course of NCAA Division III Week (April 2-April 9), we will profile several student-athletes who excel not only in their sports but in the classroom, as well.

Our third profile is senior Drew Phillips of the men's soccer team. Phillips, who finished up his career on the pitch at Goucher this past fall. Phillips earned All-Landmark Conference honors as a defender twice throughout his career (2016, 2017) to become just the second Goucher men's soccer player since the Gophers joined the Landmark Conference at its advent in 2007 to be named to the All-Landmark team two times. Off the field, Phillips has accumulated a 3.64 GPA as a Political Science and Economics major at Goucher, earning a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Division III Men's Scholar All-South Region First Team this past year. 

Why did you choose to come to Goucher and be an athlete?

I came to Goucher because it felt right as compared to the other schools and soccer teams I visited. I was immediately able to sense that I would fit in on our soccer team and that if I got to play for Coach Laut for 4 years I would really enjoy myself.

What do you like most about the balance in Division III between academics and athletics?

The balance that made D3 perfect for me, but also makes it a challenge in terms of motivating people, is that it's all about putting in how much you want to get out of it. There's only so much organized, structured time you get with your full team and coaches throughout the year, so the responsibility is on the individual to make the most out of their opportunity. This includes academics—you have to create your own balance and in doing so prioritize the different areas of your life.

What unique opportunities has Goucher provided for you in your studies?

Goucher has provided a different perspective for me wholesale. Coming from rural upstate New York and going to a school in a Mid-Atlantic metropolitan city, has allowed me to experience far different perspectives than I encountered for most of my life. Additionally, experiencing life in Germany this past winter is probably something I wouldn't have done in college, had I not gone to Goucher.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

I'm hoping to work in some area of politics and policy, but open to all of the possibilities that field may entail. Ultimately, wherever allows me to have the most profound impact on causes that I care about, is where I would like to find myself.

--GOPHERS--