Julio Castillo is a little banged up at the moment but it hasn’t slowed down his ability to be productive for the Northwest Nazarene men’s soccer team.
“It hasn’t been easy because I’m dealing with some minor injuries, but so far, fee good about the beginning of the season because I am continuously helping my team win.”
Castillo has no doubt been a play-maker, dishing out six assists. He has also scored a goal for the Crusaders, who are 7-1-1 through their first eight games.
Not only has Castillo thrived, but the Crusaders have played well as a team.
“The key to our team success is that our coaches have created a mix of players who are experienced from last year and the new recruits have connected well with the team,” Castillo said. “Also, the atmosphere around the team makes us feel like family working together for the same goals that we set together before our season.”
Castillo, a senior midfielder out of Mexico, is on pace to be even better than he was a year ago when he punched in one goal and tallied nine assists en route to helping the Crusaders win 15 games and reach the NCAA tournament. He credits his success to both hard work and the teammates around him.
“I feel that I have improved the most as a player by learning new things every year from my own experiences,” Castillo said. “There is always something that I can put extra work into to improve and I have always done that. “My success in college is also a credit to having great teammates. I also spend a lot of time being disciplined in soccer with the purpose of being better every day and to help the team win.”
Castillo has enjoyed his experience with the Crusaders and he has every intention of making his senior season one to remember.
“My expectations are to help us compete in the tournament and make it further than we did last year, so that together we can prove that our hard work will pay off,” Castillo said. “For me personally, I want to continue assisting and scoring goals to help us get the wins we need to be successful.”
