Ravens men's soccer recently caught up with former captain Raphaël Garcia. Garcia talks about his transition from pro soccer to U SPORTS, his time at Carleton and what he's gained from the Ravens community.
We were at home, facing the Brock Badgers in the OUA semifinals. A win would secure our spot at nationals. For many of the older guys on our roster, this game carried extra weight—our heartbreaking loss in the 2021 nationals final was still fresh in our minds. This was our chance to make things right.
Brock came prepared, bringing their entire roster on the trip, including at least six players who weren’t dressing. Their job was clear: get in our heads. And they had done their homework. From warm-ups to the final whistle, they hurled personal heckles at us that were impossible to ignore. A lot of our guys took it personally. Whether we wanted to admit it or not, it was working.
Despite the distractions, we started strong. We dominated possession and created plenty of goal-scoring chances. But when you play such an aggressive attacking style, defensive duties can sometimes feel like an afterthought. That season, set pieces had been our Achilles’ heel, and once again, it cost us. Brock capitalized on a corner kick. 1-0.
After conceding, we kept pushing. We created two or three solid chances before halftime, but nothing would go in. Frustration started setting in. Some guys were breaking down emotionally on the field, and even more so at halftime.
Then came the second half and we still had a hard time getting that first one. But around the 50th minute, Dany won us a penalty, and Luca buried it (of course). 1-1.
From now until the 90th minute and even all extra time, you could tell both team were starting to get tired. Game was still tied at the end of 120 minutes of play.
The tension was at its peak, but the unity of our team had never been stronger. When it came down to penalties, every single one of us felt the weight of the moment. I stepped up to take the first penalty, knowing I had to set the tone and buried it. From there, the momentum was ours. Tyler came up with some unreal saves, and the guys stepping up to take their shots delivered.
And then, the moment we had fought for—securing our spot at nationals. The instant that Eric's penalty hit the net, all the fans and our entire team stormed the field. That feeling, that explosion of pure emotion, is something I’ll never forget.
I found all my inspiration within the program, drawn from the club’s principles and traditions—many of which I wanted to preserve. It was easy to look up to guys like Ricky Comba and Cris Malekos, two of my closest friends. I’ve shared the field with Ricky since I was 10, and we both played the game on the edge, racking up our fair share of yellow and red cards over the years. In fact, his playing style directly influenced most of my pregame speeches.
My message to the team was simple—but I can’t emphasize this enough—I demanded that every player win their first challenge of the game. More often than not, our games were decided in the first 15-20 minutes because we physically imposed ourselves, overwhelming teams right from the start. When the first 11 challenges of a match all go your way, it sets the tone. There's a level of intimidation in sports that can’t be ignored and Ricky and Cris both mastered that aspect of the game
Also, as the captain of an extremely offensive team, my role was primarily motivational—getting the guys fired up, making sure we put in the work defensively. If we did that, the offense and the rest of the game took care of itself.
When I joined Carleton, a lot of people questioned my decision. I was 21, at the peak of my abilities, and playing professionally.
But growing up, I was always a strong student, and as a pro athlete, I started to realize that playing in Canada at the time wasn’t a sustainable long-term path. I knew I had to think beyond soccer.
So when I arrived at Carleton, I committed myself just as much to my studies as I did to the game. I wanted to break the stigma that varsity athletes couldn’t excel academically and prove that we could succeed in both areas. I'd like to think that this goal was accomplished when I became the first player in our program’s history to be recognized by the Governor General for my academic achievements.
Now for my legacy on the field, I know my teammates like to joke about how ridiculous it was when I finished the season as the country’s assist leader—as a defender. But more than stats or accolades, I hope to be remembered as a kid from Ottawa who chose to leave the pro environment to represent his hometown team. And, above all, I hope my teammates and fans remember just how much it meant to me to win my first championship with Carleton in my final year as captain.
A few years ago, opportunities to continue playing soccer at a high level in Ottawa were limited. There wasn’t a clear pathway beyond a certain age.
Now, that has changed. I hope the next generation of players growing up in this city—those with dreams of competing at the varsity or professional level—realize that the pathway is here. Guys like Gaby Bitar, Ricky Comba, Luca Piccioli, Cris Malekos, and Dario Conte all grew up in Ottawa and proved that local talent can succeed at the highest levels.
There’s an underdog mentality that comes with being from Ottawa, a city caught between two major soccer markets in Montreal and Toronto. But that edge, that hunger, is what sets us apart.
To the future Ravens—embrace that mindset, believe in what’s being built here, and keep pushing the standard higher. Strive to leave the program in a better place than it was when you arrived, so that when your time is up, you can be proud of the legacy you’ve left behind.
Raphael Garcia Carleton Ravens Men’s Captain Fall 2023
