PHOTO FOR PUB / BOBBY SHARP
It is a fall night on Edith Robb Dixion Field. Fans come out to see their Cavalier men’s soccer team. As the warm-ups start and the game begins, No. 7, A. J. Bishop, steps onto the field.
Bishop is currently a junior communications major and has been playing soccer for the Cav’s since his freshman year. Standing at 5-foot-11-inch, the midfielder goes out to play every game like it’s his last.
Growing up in Baltimore, Md., Bishop started playing soccer at age 13.
“I didn’t start when I was younger. I started a little bit older,” Bishop said.
He played for Emmaus High School before coming to Cabrini to play for the Cavaliers.
“I came to Cabrini for that sole reason, to play soccer,” Bishop said.
The men’s soccer team is currently 11-1 in the season. A.J. reflects on how he has been doing as a Cavalier on the field.
“I think the season has been good. Statistically, I feel that this has been one of my worst seasons but personally, I don’t think it matters how you do, as long as your team excels on the field,” Bishop said. “I want to go out there and get the W. I am not worried about anything else but the win.”
Being an athlete off the field can be tough; having to handle school, practice, work and games. This can cause a lot of stress to some athletes.
Luckily for A.J., this does not happen.
“I honestly don’t have that much school work but when I do, I guess you could call me a procrastinator. I definitely wait until the last minute sometimes,” Bishop said. “Some nights it really can be stressful for me to practice, get my workout in, and do my homework all in the same night.”
“Sometimes I just feel rushed, but I accomplish what I need to get done,” Bishop said
For the week of Oct. 19, Bishop was chosen as the CSAC player of the week. This is an honor for anyone who works hard on the field.
“I think it’s great that he was chosen as athlete of the week. A.J. is a great player, a great teammate. He really is a hard worker,” Drew Vernon, junior forward, said. “I feel really confident when he is on the field because I just feel like he is so dangerous when he is on the field and this really helps us succeed as a team.”
As this season ends and a semester will pass until Bishop steps on the field again for his senior season, he has set goals for himself.
“I want to go out and make sure I am getting better everyday. I want to improve as much as possible,” Bishop said.
“I would definitely like to be an all-American since it might not work out this season,” Bishop said. “I just want to go out and score a lot more goals than I did this season and keep improving as the days go by.”
