IRVINE, Calif. - As a soccer goalie, you often have to toe that line between staying disciplined and knowing when to take a chance.
Those attributes can also describe a good leader.
Concordia University Irvine senior Mac Hutchins happens to fit both of those descriptions.
As a starting goalie for the Eagles, he has been in that situation on the pitch many times between the posts. The way he has evolved over the past few years and grown into a leadership role on the CUI men's soccer team is also part of the reason why he is our Newport Rib Company Eagle of the Week.
"Mac has been a huge blessing to this program," said CUI head coach and director of soccer Chris Gould. "He is a quiet leader who is immensely talented. I am proud of Mac for taking on big challenges from day one. He may come across as unassuming but his character is remarkable."
"Mac has earned the respect of his teammates and that has opened up leadership opportunities within the team," continued Gould. "He connects well with others and brings the best out of everyone on a daily basis. He has also been our SAAC rep off the field and a leader on the field."
"I have experienced a lot of personal growth during my time at Concordia," said Hutchins, who is a graduate of nearby El Toro High School. "I have found a passion for learning and improving myself each day and have been able to develop a strict structure to my life that I think is very valuable and can be applied to after I graduate as well."
That maturity and structure applies both on and off the soccer field. The finance major is also working on a minor in accounting here at Concordia. He has always liked the idea of becoming an entrepreneur someday or being able to work for a large company and work his way up the ladder where he can one day make an impact as a Chief Financial Officer.
You can see how that career path fits him well. His ability to communicate with his teammates on defense helped give CUI a boost down the stretch last fall, when the Eagles won four of their final five regular season matches. Hutchins was in goal for all four of those wins, which were all shutouts against PacWest Conference foes.
Good leaders also know when to be humble and when to share the spotlight.
"As a goalkeeper, there is nothing better than a shutout," said Hutchins, who was named PacWest Conference Defender of the Week during that hot streak. "Whether you win or tie, you know that you did your part and left it all on the field. In those five games, my own personal performance does not stand out but rather the fact that my defense and I were able to come together and play as a unit."
They also know how to take responsibility when they do make mistakes.
"The thing people don't realize about goalkeeping is the amount of mental strength it takes," said Hutchins, who is also a two-time Academic All-PacWest selection. "As the last line of defense, you have no room for an error, a simple turnover in the midfield may be fine, but that same turnover in my position is a goal. Goalkeepers have to remain mentally strong for the entire game, which can be very draining."
