Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Rutgers-Newark Athletics

Scoreboard Desktop

Events and Results

Composite Calendar

Athlete Awards

Profile of the Week

Victor Navas Jr.

  • Award
    Profile of the Week
  • Week Of
    9/24/2018
  • Sport
    Men's Soccer
  • Bio
    View Full Bio
By Jim Hague

As he began his final season playing for the Rutgers-Newark men's soccer team, Victor Navas Jr.realized that he had established a vital role with the Scarlet Raiders.
 
"I wanted to help the freshmen get ready," said the senior midfielder. "We've had some success while I've been here and I just wanted it to continue. I remember the struggles of what it was like when I was a freshman, so I wanted to do whatever I could to make this the best season possible. I wanted to show them how to do the little things you need. I told them about the intensity. I told them how they needed to focus at all times. We have about three or four freshmen ready to make an impact right away. I prepared for this season the most that I could and I wanted to show them the hard work attitude."
 
The approach with the young players was something that was not lost with R-N head men's soccer coach Kevin East.
 
"Victor has been very good with the freshmen," East said. "I think he's a calming presence in the midfield. He's seen everything he's going to see in soccer, so he especially helps with the younger guys."
 
Even if it meant that Navas' work with the freshman Scarlet Raiders would cut into his playing time, Navas Jr. was willing to help.
 
"I do like that," Navas Jr. said. "I like it a lot. I like helping the other players."
 
Navas Jr. hasn't exactly enjoyed a walk in the park during his stint with the Scarlet Raiders. He has been battling injuries to his back and especially his hamstrings.
 
"It's been very frustrating for Victor over the last two years," East said. "He's missed a lot of time. He's been unlucky battling injuries."
 
"It's been that way all four years," Navas Jr. said. "It's been tough, but I've been taking care of it."
 
East believed that Navas' conditioning wasn't as good as it could have been.
 
"I thought fitness-wise, he needed to improve," East said. "I thought soccer-wise, he was solid. But now, he's really taking care of himself. He's done a lot of running and working out. He's always working out in the gym, so I give him credit for that. He's done a good job in that aspect."
 
Navas Jr. came to Rutgers-Newark after a successful career at North Plainfield High School. He admits that he almost enrolled at rival Montclair State, but there were a couple of members of the Scarlet Raider roster at the time that helped to steer Navas Jr. away from the Red Hawks.
 
"I talked to them and it started to interest me," Navas Jr. said. "I also liked the business school and its reputation."
 
Navas Jr. knew that he wanted to major in supply chain management, so the Rutgers business school was a step in the right direction.
 
"It was a perfect combination for me," Navas Jr. said.
 
East said that he saw Navas Jr. playing for his club team, NJSA04, and was impressed with Navas Jr.'s skills.
 
"He had a very good left foot and was very skillful on the ball," East said. "I also noticed that he had a very good soccer IQ. I thought that his left foot would help open the field for us."
 
Navas Jr. is more of a defensive midfielder who helps with controlling possession of the ball. Navas Jr. is currently a reserve player for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
"We're doing a good job managing his minutes," East said. "We needed some senior leadership coming off the bench. Once the game has a flow to it, then Victor is able to make an impact."

East loves Navas Jr.'s approach to the game.
 
"He's a soccer junkie," East said. "He absolutely loves the game. Sure, I know he wants to be out there more. Every kid wants to play. I just want him to get through the year healthy. I'm glad he's with us and I'm glad he's healthy."
 
"Anyone who is competitive wants to get that starting role," Navas Jr. said. "I can't worry about that now. I just have to worry about being out there, focusing on what I have to do when I get my chance to be out there."
 
Navas Jr. likes being able to help control the pace of the game.
 
"A lot of other teams are run and gun types," Navas Jr. said. "I like to be able to calm things down a little and slow the pace down. I like trying to help the team with the speed of play, calm things down a little."
 
East likes Navas Jr.'s personality.
 
"He's an outgoing guy," East said. "He gets along with all the other guys on the team. He wants to win and be a part of good things. He has a lot of good traits and helps our team a lot. He always has a good frame of mind. He's a mature player and a mature young man."
 
Navas Jr. doesn't know what the future holds after graduation next May. He hopes to take his business degree in supply chain management and make an interesting plunge into the business world.
 
"I'm interested in forecasting," Navas Jr. said. "I would like to help companies with the idea of when they should sell or when they should buy, what they should sell and what they could buy. I think I'd be very good at that."
 
For now, he wants to make solid contributions to the Scarlet Raiders both on and off the field for the two months he has left playing for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
"If we can put everything together, this could be the best year yet," Navas Jr. said. "We have more than enough talent to do things. We are young, but if we keep progressing and getting better, this could be a year to remember."

And it could be a campaign that could carry Navas Jr. into the rest of his life.


Athlete Awards
Date Athlete Sport
1/17/2008 Erin Marshall Profile of the Week
1/10/2008 Nnaemeka Ibeh Profile of the Week
1/2/2008 Nerlande Nicolas Profile of the Week
12/30/2007 Derryck Alexander Profile of the Week
12/11/2007 Toni Roselli Profile of the Week
12/4/2007 David Cherry Profile of the Week
11/28/2007 Travia Smith Profile of the Week
11/21/2007 Dan O'Keefe Profile of the Week
11/14/2007 Eni Fageyinbo Profile of the Week
11/7/2007 Afalobi Ajumobi Profile of the Week
10/30/2007 Sagan Caldwell Profile of the Week
10/23/2007 Alex Gastulo Profile of the Week
10/17/2007 Nicole Rubinetti Profile of the Week
10/9/2007 Joe Tutalo Profile of the Week
10/2/2007 Cierra Farquharson Profile of the Week
9/25/2007 Paul Bahamondes Profile of the Week
9/19/2007 Nazly Hasanizadeh Profile of the Week
9/11/2007 Alison Phillips Profile of the Week
9/4/2007 Fergie-Ross Montero Profile of the Week
8/29/2007 Wojtek Krakowiak Profile of the Week
Previous...1112131415Next