White stands tall in m. soccer's goal, continues family tradition

At first glance, senior Erik White may seem like your ordinary engineering student. He treks to the E-Quad. He eats dinner at Cottage. He does his homework. But there is something else that sets him apart from other students, and it's not just his six-foot, three-inch frame.

For the past three years, White has started in goal for the men's soccer team. He spent his freshman year backing up older brother Jason White '03. Two brothers at Princeton is out of the ordinary, but even rarer is a trio of varsity athletes from the same family. Kevin White '00 spent four years as a member of the men's golf team.

"My parents and my two brothers were pretty set on me coming," Erik said. "I had entertained a few other schools, but when it came down to it, it just seemed right. But if I would've decided somewhere else, they would've been behind me 100 percent. I'm glad I listened to them."

Although it might seem preordained that White would wear the black and orange, his path to Princeton and Lourie-Love Field started in a first-grade soccer recreational league. Just like every other six-year-old in America, White wore the colors of a local business and played before sidelines filled with proud parents.

It was not until sixth grade that White began playing seriously with a club team. By the age of 15, White played for Pennsylvania-based FC Delco, one of the best club soccer teams in the country. FC Delco plays in several national and international tournaments each year. During his four summers with the team, White won two national championships.

White demonstrated his ability to multi-task during those summers, which would come in handy in later years as a busy Princeton engineer.

"During the summer between sophomore and junior year, I played on two teams," White said. "It worked out perfectly where I'd go from work to practice with one team, and the next day I'd go to practice for the other team. So I was practicing like six times a week. Going from April to November playing almost every day, it was just too much."

While White now only plays for the Tigers, the one team demands a similar time commitment to that summer. But despite the pressure, White has no reservations about the choices he's made for himself.

"Right now it's not overwhelming," White said. "It's the best part of the day — going down and playing soccer for two hours with a bunch of friends I have here at school. I haven't regretted it at all."

Erik's brother Jason has played a key role in his life. Not only do the two share similar interests in athletics and academics — both Erik and Jason chose ORFE as a major — but they also look alike.

"People mistake me for Jason all the time," White said. "We're very similar. Similar work habits, similar in a lot of ways. We train together. We practice together, kind of develop the same habits."

During Jason White's time at Princeton, he accumulated more shutouts in a season and in his overall career than any other goalie at the University. White more than doubled the previous mark, despite missing most of his senior year due to injury.

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Erik White spent his freshman year learning from his brother, which was hardly a new situation. The two brothers they have been practicing and playing soccer together for their entire lives.

"We used to have a net in the backyard. He'd make me go out back and take shots on him," White said. "He was the one pushing me along, helping me out. Always very supportive. If I had to sit behind anyone, I'd definitely want it to be him."

Sophomore year, Erik got his chance to show his stuff when Jason was injured for most of the season.

"I was sorry to see him get hurt and sit there his senior year, but I was more than happy to be playing," White said. "I had an adjustment coming in. College soccer is a little more physical, faster than I'm used to in club soccer. When I came in, there was this gap between Jason and myself – skill, how comfortable we were. I had to work to close that gap. Right now, I think the gap is closer."

While the Tigers have gone a combined 11-16-8 over the past two years, Princeton may be coming out of its slump this season. With most of their experienced players returning and with the addition of a talented freshman class, the Tigers are confident that they can win their first Ivy League title since 2001.

"We definitely have high hopes for this year's team, whether it's an Ivy League championship or an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament," White said. "I think it's definitely within our reach. We're a pretty experienced team. We have a solid group of guys who are developing into good leaders. It even extends to stuff off the field. Getting prepared for practice. Getting prepared for the games. Making sure everyone is there mentally and there physically."

These are not the same Tigers who have walked onto the field for the past two years. After battling through two overtime sessions to earn a tie against No. 18 South Carolina last weekend with help from five saves by White, Princeton is 3-1-1 on the season.

"That was probably the best game we've played all year," White said. "I think South Carolina was pretty lucky to get away with a tie. We had the better of the play. Hopefully we'll keep that level of play for the rest of the year."