Get Your Head In The Game
Javon Daniels hopes that his late-summer soccer surge will carry into the fall. Daniels is a 2023 graduate of Burlington Township, who is entering his sophomore season at Villanova. This summer he competed for Atlantic City FC of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).
Known as the Aces, Atlantic City FC played its home games at Stockton University and finished the year 5-4-1, in third place in the Keystone Eastern Division, where the top two teams competed in the playoffs.
Daniels is a forward whose game grew as the season wore on.
During a 2-1 late season win over FC Monmouth, he scored his first goal of the season.
Then in the season finale, a wild 4-3 home victory over the Philadelphia Union Developmental Squad, he snapped a 3-3 tie by scoring the game-winner.
Late in the season Daniels had a good discussion with Atlantic City FC coach Alexis Mendoza about his progress this summer.
“He was saying that in the beginning of the year I was playing nervous, like stiff and then in the second half of the season I got adjusted to the game, and the pace of the level and I was playing more loosely,” Daniels said.
Now his thoughts are geared to Villanova.
In high school, Daniels didn’t compete for Burlington Township, but played against MLS Next competition, which was an extremely high level.
Still, he discovered the big difference in college soccer, where the game was more physical than he had experienced. As a freshman, Daniels appeared in eight games for the Wildcats.
“When I played MLS Next, the level was somewhat close to college, but it’s just adjusting to the size of the players, the demand of the coaches,” he said. “So, I think this past spring season I came out more confident, especially my last spring game against Penn State.”
He didn't score against Penn State, but felt good about his play.
“I think personally it was one of my best performances, especially against such a good team, the Big 10 [regular season] champs,” he said.
He then built on his final game in the spring, with a strong summer, especially late in the year.
“I got my confidence back and I think I have improved as a player,” he said.
It was not only the game, but going up against talented players in practice this summer that also aided Daniels’ development.
Daniels said he will likely play a wing position at Villanova. What is most impressive about his game is that he isn’t afraid to take defenders on 1-v-1.
“You shouldn’t be afraid to take people on, humbly, especially with my pace and my size,” the 5-11, 180-pound Daniels said.
And now he is hoping to take what he learned in the spring and summer and apply it this fall for the Wildcats.
Photo Javon Daniels / Marc Narducci
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Author: Marc Narducci
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