SoccerWire is publishing Q&A articles with recently-committed players who have Featured Profiles in the SoccerWire Recruiting Directory. The series allows players to share their stories on the college recruiting process, travel and high school soccer, and their passion for the beautiful game.
In this edition we will showcase Chase Rooney, who has verbally committed to play NCAA Division I soccer in 2025 at Virginia Tech. Rooney plays travel soccer in the ECNL for Virginia Development Academy.
Rooney plays goalkeeper for Virginia Development Academy’s 06/05 team and is a five-time ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference champion.
SoccerWire: What made you decide to commit to Virginia Tech?
Chase Rooney: I chose to commit to VT because I want to study criminal justice and psychology. Also, it was always my dream to play soccer for a Power 4 program and play with and against the best. I went to a camp a couple years ago and then on a visit this October and the players and coaches were very nice. The VT campus was everything I had wanted. Virginia Tech is a perfect way to have fun playing soccer and working to my goal of becoming an FBI agent.
SW: What was the recruiting process like and what did you learn about yourself while going through it?
CR: My recruiting process wasn’t what I thought it would be, it started out fast and when the college season started, it was a bit slow. VT was my first call on June 15th this year and they have stuck with me ever since. I had some communication with other amazing schools, but none showed interest as much as VT had.
SW: How do you feel your strengths in goal will help the Hokies?
CR: Being that I’m almost 6’4”, my main strength in goal is my height. I feel this attribute will help the Hokies in that it will take away corners and crosses that come near the six. With my height I also tower above the forwards and will be able to take away the heading aspect of any team’s game. I can still get down quick, but other teams won’t dare kick it high into my space.
SW: When did you first start playing goalkeeper and what do you like most about the position?
CR: I first started playing goalkeeper when I was about 8. I was playing with my older brother and his friends, and they had me in goal and I was stopping a lot of their shots, even though like a brother, they were kicking as hard as they could. My dad later came to me and said I should just try being a keeper out. I fell in love with it although I wasn’t just a goalkeeper, I also played center back. It wasn’t until I was going to try out for ODP that my coach Chris Scrofani (from Tidewater Sharks in Williamsburg VA) told me I should go in as a goalkeeper. My favorite part about the position is the feeling you get when you save someone’s shot. There’s no celebrating as a goalkeeper, at least not on the outside, we must continue and move on from it. That Is my favorite thing about it, feeling needed and feeling that I’m “saving” my team from conceding.
SW: What are your favorite subjects in school and what do you think you would like to study in college?
CR: When I get to VT, I’m very excited to study criminal justice and psychology. In school right now I’m already working towards that as I am currently taking AP psychology and criminal justice. My whole life my favorite subject has always been math with statistics being my personal favorite.
SW: Outside of soccer, what clubs, organizations, and/or jobs are you involved in?
CR: Off the field I’m an explorer for the Prince William Police Department. This organization takes you through how to be in law enforcement and we do community work. We get to hear from speakers and get hands on work as well. I really enjoy this because it sets me up for the rest of my life.
SW: If you had the chance to meet one professional athlete who would you want to meet and what would you ask them?
CR: If I had the chance to meet one athlete, I would want to meet Brock Purdy and ask him what was going through his mind when he had to come in for Jimmy Garoppolo. I would want to know how he overcame the pressure from being Mr. Irrelevant to an almost Super Bowl champion.
SW: What are your favorite pair of gloves that you have ever owned?
CR: My favorite pair of gloves I ever wore was my Uhlsport black Absolutgrip. I wore these gloves when I won the first state championship for my school. They work very well in rain and work well in changing climates, as Virginia goes from cold too hot to rain very quickly.
SW: What has your experience been like playing for VDA so far?
CR: My experience playing for VDA has been the best thing of my life. My former coach Mikey Welsh brought me in based off a highlight video during the COVID year. I wasn’t nearly as solid as I am now when I joined in 2020, but I had him and an amazing goalkeeper coach Andrew Dykstra to help me become the player I am today. Our team is phenomenal, I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to play with. We get along very well, and we always have each other’s backs. We won five ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Championships in a row and we progressed together, worked hard together, and drove each other every day. I can’t wait to see some of my teammates in college on the playing field and stop their shots
SW: If you could give one piece of advice to a younger player that wants to play at a high level what would it be?
CR: If I could give a piece of advice to a younger player, I would tell them to work as hard as they can when they’re young, and to cherish every moment they have because it comes so fast. I would also tell them to not only pick a college just off how good they are at the sport you play, but to choose it for education. You’ll play for four years of your life but the other 50 or 60 will come from that education.
SW: Is there anyone that you would like to give a shoutout to who has helped you both on and off of the field?
CR: I would like to thank my Dad. He traveled the country with me and gave up so much time and money for me to accomplish my goal. We worked hard off the field to make sure I played well on the field. Every state we would travel to we would keep the same traditions to make it comfortable. I hope everyone finds something they like to do away from the fields at every showcase so they can make those memories with their families. I wouldn’t be here without him but other names to mention are those of my coaches from when I was young, to when I moved away and moved back to Northern Virginia to start over by coming back to VDA and be given the chance to prove myself. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without all my amazing coaches. Thank you so much!
