FC Balboa Family's Sam Joseph Earns Top Honors in NCAA Soccer

For the aspiring young players of FC Balboa, the path to collegiate and professional soccer can sometimes feel distant. But every so often, a story emerges that brings that dream right back to our doorstep. This season, that story belongs to Sam Joseph, a name that should resonate with our entire community.

Sam, a San Diego native who grew up playing in North Park, and whose father, Dan, serves on our own FC Balboa Board, is making major waves in the NCAA Division I soccer world. As the starting goalkeeper for Virginia Tech, Sam has had a phenomenal start to his senior season, and the accolades are already pouring in.

Just last week, Sam was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performances. In the opening week of the season, he recorded two shutouts, one of which was a massive 1-0 upset victory over the #3 ranked team in the country, Ohio State. He followed that up with another clean sheet against Canisius, totaling five saves across the two matches and not conceding a single goal.

His stellar play has been instrumental in Virginia Tech's undefeated start to the season. For those who have watched Sam's journey, this success is no surprise. After transferring from UCLA, the 6'4" goalkeeper has brought a commanding presence to the Hokies' backline.

Sam's story is a powerful reminder to every player in our club. He's a local kid who honed his skills on the same fields our players practice on today. His journey shows that with dedication, hard work, and a commitment to excellence, the highest levels of the sport are within reach.

We are incredibly proud to see a member of our extended FC Balboa family achieving such great success. We'll be cheering Sam and the Hokies on for the rest of their season. Let's all take a moment to celebrate one of our own and draw inspiration from his incredible start!
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Go Hokies, and Go Balboa!

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