It took a while for Christian Nunez to find his true home in collegiate soccer.

Nunez, a product of the famed St. Benedict's Prep program in Newark, first went to Fairleigh Dickinson University, but left there after two seasons.

He then went to Montclair State and remained there for one season, but got disgruntled when he didn't get a chance to play there.

"I went in there with the coaches telling me I was going to play a lot, but I didn't get a chance to play at all," Nunez said.

So with one year left of his college eligibility, Nunez reached out to Rutgers-Newark head coach Kevin East, who had recruited Nunez out of high school.

"Coach East was willing to give me a chance," Nunez said. "I told him that I wanted to stay with an NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) school and had to prove to everyone that I was still a good soccer player. I felt like this was my chance to play a pivotal role on a good team. I knew Rutgers was still in a building phase of sorts, but I thought I could help out. It was going to be a challenge for me, but I welcomed the challenge. I was all in."

East thought that there was not going to be an opportunity to play.

"Right before the spring, he called me and said that he was a changed guy, that he had a better attitude towards soccer," East said. "I told him that I wasn't promising him anything. I told him that if he was good with that, then he could come and try out. I told him that if he showed up and came in showing he could play, then he would play."

But the first few games of the 2021 season, East didn't see the opportunity to get Nunez on the pitch. East didn't have any playing time for Nunez at center midfield, his true position.

However, an injury opened up a spot at defender and East approached Nunez with the opportunity to play.

"Honestly, it's not a position I ever played before," Nunez said. "But I said to myself, 'Let's go in there and see if I can do it.' I had to do some research. It was all part of the learning process, learning a new position to play. I just wanted to play."

Nunez found the transition from midfielder to defender wasn't that difficult for him,

"I just wanted to keep possession of the ball and not lose the ball," Nunez said. "I had to keep it on the ground. Every time I got the ball, I had to learn to twist and turn. I had a lot of success going at the other team."

Nunez had so much success that he was recently named to the All-NJAC Honorable Mention squad. Not bad for a guy who never played defender before.

"I always played on teams that played with the ball on the ground," Nunez said "I think this worked out perfectly. I think it's been to the rest of the team's benefit having someone who knows how to play the same way that they are used to playing."

Nunez has helped the Scarlet Raiders post a 14-4-4 record this season and a berth in the ECAC Division III championship game Saturday against Muhlenberg with game time at Rutgers-Newark beginning at 5 p.m.

Nunez said that he has developed a different approach to the sport he loves to play being a defender.

"It's definitely a different mentality," Nunez said. "I just try to go up and down the field as fast as possible and make sure our goal is protected. Our defense is pretty good. I love playing there. As the games went on, I became more comfortable. It became more natural to me. When I first got in a game, I said, 'Wow, I'm playing pretty well and I can do this. We have a lot of scoring threats, so it's our job to get them the ball."

East is not surprised with Nunez's contributions.

"He's a skilled player," East said. "He's very technical. He's very good with the ball and possesses the ball well. He can turn a defensive play into an attack play very quickly. He'll win a ball and then find some space moving forward. He has a solid build with a low center of gravity, which is good for a defender. He's very strong on the ball and can pass in forward like 15-to-20 yards. He's also very attentive and is always paying attention. He really didn't have a bad attitude. He just wanted to convince me he could play. Without a doubt, we're not playing for a championship without him. He's been one of our field leaders on one of the best teams we've ever produced."

Added East, "He's become a real pleasant surprise for us. He's definitely filled a void for us."

Nunez is majoring in criminal justice, but after college, he's going to get his real estate license, like his father, Miguel, who works for REMAX in Englewood Cliffs.

"I want to get into property investments," Nunez said.

For now, there's a championship to play for this weekend.

"I just love the joy of being out there with my friends," Nunez said. "I'm going to miss it. I'm grateful for the chance to prove that I could still play. I'm blessed to be on the field."

East feels the same way.

"He's one of the field leaders on one of the best teams and he's one of the top guys at that position."

It's funny how things all work out in the end, especially if the Scarlet Raiders can end the season with an ECAC Division III championship this weekend.