Bolivar, Mo. – Dawson Sozio has been a member of the SBU men's soccer for the past three seasons as a goalkeeper. The Springfield, Missouri native currently sits 7^th in the SBU career save list. As he nears his fourth and final season as a Bearcat, Sozio talks about what his experience at SBU has been like as a men's soccer student-athlete.  

"Being a student-athlete at SBU allows me to play a sport I love competitively in a community that loves Christ. It's a unique opportunity that I wouldn't find at many other universities."
 
Growing up Sozio knew his goal was to play college soccer. So, during high school he and his parents began making highlight videos to send out to coaches and attend numerous ID camps. One of those camps was a short drive-up Highway 13 at the SBU soccer field where he drew the attention of former men's soccer coach Rick Daum. The relationship built with coach Daum and others on campus, the Christian values, and positive experience during campus tour led Sozio to choose SBU as his home the next four years.
 
"Ultimately, however, I believe it was God who called me here. I've grown a lot closer to Him since first coming in as a freshman, and I believe that was God's design all along."
 
As opposed to most sports at SBU, Sozio is among the minority of students that are from the United States, with half of the team being international. Though he views this as a positive opportunity to meet so many different people from different cultures and backgrounds. "As a men's soccer player, I get to say I have friends from places like South Africa, Paraguay, Italy, Spain, and more. It's such a cool experience getting to be a part of the lives of all the members of the team." He goes on to explain how fortunate and blessed he is to get the opportunity to play soccer in college.
 
"A lot of people don't get the opportunity to play a sport they love through their college years, so I feel extremely lucky that God has given me this opportunity. It's especially cool to play soccer in a place so focused on glorifying Christ."
 
Sozio has embodied what it means to be a Bearcat Student-Athlete, by not only excelling on the field but off the field as well. Throughout his three years, he has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA along with three Brother James Gaffney Awards. Well on the way to earning a GLVC Council of President's Academic Excellence Award, given to those who have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA throughout their academic career. Along with academics Sozio has been a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and SBU athletics Digital Media Athletic Committee (DMAC's). As well, he has spent time being a work study for the SBU Athletics Department.
 
Heading into his final season as a Bearcat Sozio is excited about potentially making SBU history with the men's soccer program. "We are coming off a good spring season, and there's a lot of hope and belief within the team right now. We're also adding a lot of good players this offseason, so there's a real chance this team could make playoffs, which SBU has never done before."
 
Though this will likely be his last time playing the sport he loves, he doesn't plan on being done with the game. Sozio is graduating with his degree in media studies with plans on going into sports broadcasting in journalism. Building experience through DMAC's and local radio stations, his dream is to eventually be a play-by-play commentator for professional soccer matches.
 
"This year is going to be extremely bittersweet." Sozio said, "I've had a great career, and I'm glad God has blessed me with the ability to play this game for so long. No matter what happens, I know I need to trust in Him and He will have my back."