Tim Beauchamp has one more shot at the beautiful game
For Tim Beauchamp, this is his final shot at university soccer. One of the beautiful and tragic aspects of sport is the short timeline an athlete has; and how foreseeable the end can be.
Beauchamp is a fourth year psychology major at St. Thomas University, and has no plans of coming back for a fifth.
“I’m in my senior year, so I want to give it a shot…It’s a good note to leave on; that I played university soccer at some point,” said Beauchamp.
Beauchamp, who plays defense, started playing soccer at age five. If he makes the team, it will be the highest level of soccer he has ever competed in.
This isn’t the first time Beauchamp has attempted to make the Tommies’ soccer team. Two years ago, he surprised himself when went to training camp. Beauchamp was a welcome week leader at Chatham Hall. A couple of first year students wanted to know where the soccer field was so they could try out. Beauchamp walked with them to the field and ended up as a hopeful for the team.
“I had no intention of trying out,” said Beauchamp. “I brought my gear along for intramurals. I didn’t play soccer that summer…so I was completely out of shape.”
Beauchamp’s chances at making the team were also hindered during an exhibition game, where Tim felt he played poorly on defense.
“I coughed up the ball a couple of times,” he said.
Although there were whispers that Beauchamp might make the team, it just didn’t happen. The Hampton native opted not to try out during his third year of university. He wanted to focus on his degree, and also got a couple of part time jobs.
But now he is more focused and in better condition to play soccer. Tommies head coach Darren Cann has been pleased with Beauchamp’s performance during training camp.
“He’s done extremely well so far, he’s impressed us a bit,” said Cann. “He’s strong in the tackle. He’s a bubbly sort of person. He seems to be happy. He’s in good shape.”
Despite his strong suits as a player, Beauchamp still has to get used to university level soccer.
“It’s really geared more around possession,” said Beauchamp. “You can’t just play kick and run style of soccer…that’s what’s most challenging for me to wrap my head around that style of play.”
“[One thing] He’s probably got to realize, when he starts playing, is the intensity; how fast this league is,” said Cann.
But Cann believes that Beauchamp has the potential to play at the university level.
“I think he’s got a good chance to make the team.”
