White looks to secure spot as Princeton's all-time best keeper

Similar to any other Princeton athlete, senior goalkeeper Jason White is hard working, intelligent and dedicated to his team. Unlike most Princeton athletes, White does not expect to retire from his sport when his senior season ends. The number of Princeton athletes competing in professional leagues can be counted on two hands, but White, an Operational and Research Financing major, hopes to join this small group after he graduates in June.

First playing competitive soccer when he was five years old, White has spent every fall and most other seasons since then on the soccer field. While Jason is clearly one of Princeton's all-time greatest goalkeepers, it took a couple seasons of youth soccer until White found himself permanently playing goalie.

In high school, White mostly focused on soccer, but he still managed to play varsity basketball as a sophomore and letter in track. But even during the basketball and track seasons, White would rush off from high school practice to attend one of his club soccer practices. By the end of his sophomore year at Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill Academy, White decided to focus entirely on soccer.

White had a lot of success with his high school team, but it was his club team, FC Delco, that had the most success, winning two national championships. The FC Delco team was made up of players from the Philadelphia area, and through this team, White had the opportunity to play with or against other top high school soccer players in the country. Going into his freshman year at Princeton, this experience proved to be invaluable.

A four-year starter, White has played in almost every Princeton soccer game since he entered the school in the fall of 1999. A top recruit for the team, White made his impact immediately, and he remained a star for the Tigers all season. He finished his freshman year with a .62 goals against average, which earned him a place on the All-Ivy first team and the Soccer America All-freshman team.

White's sophomore season was a bit of a disappointment for the team. The squad failed to win an Ivy League championship, and White's numbers dropped from his freshman year.

But the fall of 2001 was a total change from the year before. The Tigers won the Ivy League title and finished the season ranked 10th in the nation. Of course, White was a major reason for the success. With a .75 goals against average and setting Princeton's all-time record for career shutouts and shutouts in a single season, White was once again first team All-Ivy.

Instead of resting upon last year's success, White has now focused on improving himself even more. He has participated on both the Under-18 and Under-23 national teams and, all summer he practiced with Silkeborg IS — a member of Denmark's professional league. Even more than just improving his skills, White learned how he well he can compete in the European soccer leagues.

While White has always been a strong player for the Tigers, he is the first one to admit that he made too many mistakes when he was a freshman.

"I needed to improve my long balls and distribution, but more than that, I no longer take as many chances. I definitely think that I am now a smarter player," White said.

The Tigers captured a share of the Ivy League championship and competed in the NCAA National Tournament, but an early loss to Fairleigh Dickinson ended Princeton's season on a low note. Even though the Tigers graduated its leading scorer and its top defensemen, White is very excited for this year's team.

"This team has more speed and flair than ever before. Also, I think we are less predictable and more dangerous on offense," White said.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

White's future career in soccer is still up in the air, but the recent success of Mike Nugent and Matt Behncke in the MLS is evidence to the strength of the Princeton soccer program and is a good sign for White. But for now, White is focusing entirely on this season.

"I would love to play soccer professionally, but right now I am only thinking about how we are going to win the Ivies. I figure everything will work out from there."