Last year, the men’s soccer team was introduced to a small statured midfielder from North Florida College.  This player was 5 foot-7-inch midfielder Akil DeFreitas. In his first year in Raleigh, the junior played sparingly in 20 games, scoring in two of them.

However, now a senior, DeFreitas has overcome his slow start from his junior year, showing his ability to perform at the high level the ACC provides.  

At the age of 6, DeFreitas began playing soccer for fun in Trinidad, his home country. The boy soon realized he had a knack for the game as he continued to play and develop his skills.  While rising in skill level and playing on better and better teams, he was finally named to his home country’s national team.

“Soccer is the number one sport in Trinidad, so it was a very big deal when I was growing up there,” DeFreitas said.  “By the time I reached high school at St. Anthony’s College, I played for Under 17 Trinidad and Tobago National team and then moved on to Trinidad and Tobago National team Under 20.”

For three years, DeFreitas played soccer for North Florida College. But he sson felt the need to play in a more competitive setting.  This drive for a high level of play led him to choose the ACC.  To him, NCSU seemed like a good fit.

“The main reason why I decided to transfer is to get a better opportunity to go to the next level,” DeFreitas said.  “I also wanted to challenge myself more since I had a couple accomplishments in my old school.  My transition to N.C State was pretty tough. The overall atmosphere is very different. The workouts and practices are much tougher and more intense than my old school.”

A native from the Port-of-Spain, in Trinidad, DeFreitas has shown his ability to adapt to the different style of play in the U.S.

“In Trinidad, we played skillful soccer,” DeFreitas said.  “In America it’s about hard work and tactics. Also, the style of play here is more physical than Trinidad. The soccer in Trinidad is also more laid back whereas American soccer is faster and requires you to be more athletic.”

Though the style of play has changed, DeFreitas has settled into the Pack’s lineup.  After starting in no games last year, DeFreitas has started most games this year because of his speed and scoring ability, as he has already scored three goals while garnering two assists in 15 games for the Pack.

“I definitely think that my speed and my ability to dribble with the ball highlight my play,” DeFreitas said.  “I am able to change the pace of the game at any given moment, which constantly makes me a threat to the other teams.”

Both coaches and teammates have talked about that constant threat. Coach George Tarantini knows all too well of the potential DeFreitas possesses.

“Akil has been great,”  Tarantini said.  “He has done what he has needed to do.  He can always make great things happen.”

For DeFreitas, his plays and ability to bring “great things” to the men’s soccer team has been apparent, even if it is not showing up in the team’s wins and losses column. Sitting at a record of 5-6-2, with the majority of losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents, DeFreitas has pulled his own weight.

After the soccer season ends this year, the senior hopes to further his soccer career. Noting that it has been his life since he was young, he hopes to take his skills to the professional level.

“I would like to play professionally,” DeFreitas said. “Soccer has been part of my life and I would like to keep it that way. It has been my dream to go professional since I was 6 years old. If I don’t go professional, I would like to become a coach and educate young soccer players all of my knowledge of the game.”