Soccer Spotlight: Everybody Loves Draymond

Story by Broadside Assistant Sports Editor Brian Chan. Photo by Peter Flint.

Last season, George Mason University’s two leading scorers on the men's soccer team, Chris Chaves and Fro Adu, netted three goals apiece. One of 10 freshmen on the 2008 roster, forward Draymond Washington entered the season hoping to quadruple that amount. With a third of the season complete, Washington already has been a major factor as a goal scorer and team player.

In last week’s 4-0 rout over Richmond, Washington scored the first two goals of his collegiate career as he currently leads the team with six points. Washington was also credited with two assists in a 3-2 overtime loss to Virginia earlier this season. Realizing that 12 goals would be a very inspiring, but difficult task to accomplish, Washington continues to be optimistic as he feels that the help of his teammates would make the goal possible.

With only a few games under his belt, Washington's presence provides the team with the potential to contend not only at the conference level, but also at the national level.

“It feels really good to be able to make an immediate impact on this soccer team. I had been struggling earlier in the year trying to score and then finally being able to score two took a load off my back. I hope to continue to be able to help out the team in the long run and be able to score some more goals. I plan on continuing my success in the long run by working hard in practice and continuing to fight for a spot every game,” Washington said.

Washington started playing soccer at age six when he was living in Mississippi. After two years, Washington continued with soccer in Maryland, where he led Colonel Zadok Magruder High School to a state title and a 19-0 record in his senior year. He became the new school season record holder in goals with 21. Washington was also named to the Second-Team All-Met and Second-Team All-Gazette, and earned Most Outstanding Player of the State Championships honors for his outstanding senior season. Washington’s most memorable game was not his hat trick in the state final, but what got his team there.

“In my high school regional finals game, we were undefeated the whole year and we were facing Churchill who was the second best team in the region. They had been dominating us and we went into overtime and then I scored a goal. It was one of the best feelings ever,” Washington said.

Washington’s transition from high school to collegiate soccer has been smooth thus far, but the former Magruder product finds the difference between the two levels to be quite significant.

“I like college soccer because every game is a competition and every game goes toward winning a national championship. Every game in college you have to fight to keep your position unlike in high school you basically know your going to play every game,” Washington said.

Washington decided to play for Mason over his alternates, New Mexico and N.C. State, because of its convenience in being close to home. In addition, it would be convenient for his lifelong fan, his father, to attend all of his games.

With the evident signs of maturity on Washington’s part, he hopes to strive to improve every aspect of his game. He feels that “foot skills are the best and most exciting part of soccer.” This is seen from his soccer idol Didier Drogba, who has a “knack for scoring goals.”

Aside from running on the soccer field for 90 minutes, Washington also enjoys watching football on TV. He looks forward to Sundays where he roots for the Washington Redskins. Washington's interests include listening to music; his favorite rapper is Lil' Wayne.

With college being a first-time experience, Washington hopes to build off his experiences on the soccer field to become the goal scorer he expects to be.