ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Joplin Soccer’s Alex De La Torre

JOPLIN, MO — Joplin Soccer has started off their season in dominating fashion. A primary reason for their recent success is because of senior striker Alex De La Torre.

“Ever since I started playing I fell in love with it that first season,” De La Torre says.

The reason being is because of his mother, Liliana Servin.

“His dad likes baseball. So he started playing baseball. He liked it, but I like Soccer. So I signed him up for Soccer and he has been doing good ever since,” Servin adds.

Regardless of his Soccer background, De La Torre says he felt his game elevated in his junior season last year.

“Last year when I started playing, taking it more seriously, that’s when I really got into it and started grinding for achieving better,” De La Torre mentions.

That’s also when he met second year head coach Desmond Williams.

“First thing out of the gate I noticed from him was his work rate,” Williams adds. “He can run for the whole game if you ask him to. He’s very coachable and will do whatever you ask. Not the most talkative person but he definitely leads by example.”

The senior scored an impressive four goals versus New Heights last week, but with this being De La Torre’s last season as a Joplin Eagle, all he has been doing, on top of winning, is soaking it all in.

“Thinking of this being my last season isn’t a really good feeling. Ending off on a good note here with my team, with a team full of seniors would be great…I want to take them as far as I can.”

The Eagles will hit the road next to play Central Springfield on September 20th at 6:30pm.

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