The 2018 Rams Reflect is the third in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of past and present Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Mike Luntadila | Hometown: Kinshasa, Congo | Politics, Philosophy, & Economics
I left my natal Congo to come to the United States to pursue my college education. Soccer is and has always been a big part of my life since a young age. The opportunity of being able to combine my favorite activity with my studies was the reason why I settled in Boston and joined Suffolk University.
Before coming here, I had a different vision of soccer in the United States and was doubting the level of play, interest and commitment about soccer in the country. Not long after, at my biggest surprise, I discovered that soccer was a much more significant entity in this country that I could have never imagined without experiencing it myself.
I walked into Suffolk during a transition period. The team was mainly composed of first-year students with a brand new coaching staff. Soon enough I realized that college soccer would be the most challenging soccer experience physically, time-wise, and mentally that I have ever experienced. That year was disappointing as the team's results did not comply too the objectives; however a lot of positive came out from the group that made me and my teammates grow as men and players. Personally, that first season was positive despite not reaching the collective goals as I scored a crucial goal that helped the team to make it to the playoffs and played a lot as well as starting many games.
One thing I learned from my time on the team is that mental strength is the key to overcome challenges. Coming into my second season with a season-long injury was something that I had a hard time to consume as logically I knew that I would not be able to maintain and solidify my spot in the team and there is nothing more painful for any competitor than living that. My consolation was the fact that the team did very well during the season unlocking some records and sending a strong sportive message that got the team many recognitions from coaches and the conference that year.
My senior year was a year of emotion and satisfaction. The emotional part was mostly based on the fact that the idea that I was leaving the team at the end of the season was something not as easy because of the bonds and the relationship that I made during my time on the squad, which surpassed the limits of soccer. The satisfaction part comes from looking from where we came from my first year to where we are now and realizing that the future is bright for the Suffolk University Men’s Soccer Team. I will remember my last collegiate game, which also happened to be our final game of the season on a confrontation against Saint Joseph’s (Maine) for the conference quarterfinals. What I saw that day despite the 1-0 loss was a more than a bunch of college kids kicking a ball, but brothers ready to die for each other on that field. For that reason, that game will always be a sweet-sour memory.
To end this reflection, I would like to take advantage of it to thank all my teammates with whom I have shared the pitch with during my collegiate career; I wish you all the best on your future in life. Special thanks to my coaches James Boden and Andy Tucker, the Casey family that never missed an occasion to cheer us on and our exceptional athletic trainer Jeff Stone with whom I have worked on my recovery for a long time and always checked on me.
I am leaving this program with my heart heavy, my memory full, but with a smile and proud that I once was part of this big Rams family.
Mike “Lunts” Luntadila