North Carolina State University Athletics
Catching Up With Justin Branch
8/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 6, 2004
Raleigh, N.C. - With the beginning of practice only three days away, many of the NC State men's soccer players are feeling the excitement of the upcoming season. Senior Justin Branch is one of the Pack's most experienced players returning and looks to be part of another strong defensive effort this season. Branch got a chance to step away from soccer and travel to Spain for the spring semester and came back even more excited for his senior season. Q: You've had the chance to play and be in the starting lineup since your freshman season. Talk about that opportunity. Branch: It is kind of neat to think back, because coming in as a freshman we had such a large class, I really didn't know what to expect in regards to playing right away. I got a great opportunity early to step right in and play, and luckily over the years I've been able to stay in that lineup. I followed the NC State program almost my whole life just because it was the local school down the road, and it is an honor to play against the best competition in college soccer every time I step onto the field. Q: Tell is about your spring in Spain. Branch: I got to study abroad in Spain this past spring, and it was such a great opportunity for me to do. I decided last year that I wanted to minor in spanish, and one of my professors kept preaching about how it was a great opportunity to study abroad. There were only four students from NC State, so I feel I just got to have a great experience. It was an incredible time, not just academicly, but also in regards to soccer. There were three other Division I soccer players on the trip and a couple of other good players from smaller schools. We had the opportunity to go down to the park and play with the locals, just like really fun 5vs.5 games. Soccer is such a huge part of the culture, and pretty much a way of life there, it was a good experience for me to see that. Q: How excited are you for this upcoming season? Branch: I am extremely excited for just practice to get started. I've seen most of the guys that are in town over the last couple of weeks, and I know how hard everybody has been working as well as how the whole team is excited to get back out on the field. I think there are some high expectations for us this year with almost everybody back from last year's squad, and I know the team wants to go out there and prove what kind of team we have. Q: NC State only lost two starters from last year, how much of a benefit is that? Branch: It is really nice for us to have a good core back, especially us on defense. I came here with Chiedu (Chukwumah), Kyle (Fragakis), and Jorge (Gonzalez) and we've been through our ups and downs. But with the good year we had last season, I know that will help us this year. Obviously our goal every year is to win the conference, but this year I feel we are right up there with the other ACC teams. There is a lot of parity in the conference now, and that only helps us get stronger as a team.
