After spending two seasons in the shadows of standout scorers Vedad Ibisevic and Will John, junior John DiRaimondo finally has a chance to let his talent shine this season.
DiRaimondo scored four goals and added three assists in 2004, to rank as the third leading scorer on the Billiken squad. DiRaimondo’s performance earned him a spot on the first team All-Conference USA squad and a nod as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America second team All-Midwest region player.
After his 2004 performance, expectations have been big for DiRaimondo since early in the preseason, when he was tabbed by the Atlantic 10 coaches as a pre-season All-Conference selection. Those expectations have only grown, as DiRaimondo was one of 25 players named to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy Watch List. This award is given by the NSCAA to its Division I player of the year. DiRaimondo was selected by a nominating committee of D-I coaches.
Despite all of his personal honors, DiRaimondo is more focused on his team’s success.
“Anybody who wins [the Hermann Trophy] plays on a team that succeeds; it is more of a team trophy, not just an individual trophy,” DiRaimondo said. “It would be great to win, but I’d rather win a National Championship.”
“To be tabbed as a [Hermann] Trophy candidate-a little more expectation comes with it,” said coach Dan Donigan. “Each guy has to do his load, plus more.”
DiRaimondo has been building up to the 2005 season since he learned to play soccer at the age of 4. He learned from his father, who played in college.
“I grew up with soccer,” DiRaimondo said.
DiRaimondo’s name has been on the national soccer scene since he was selected to train with the U.S. Under-17 National Team in Bradenton, Fla. during his freshman year at Saint Louis University High.
He continued to play with the U-17 team into his first season with the Bills, and he traveled to play with the team in the U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003.
In addition to winning the Snickers National Championship with his Under-18 Busch club team in the summer of 2004, DiRaimondo joined the U-20 National Team on a tour of Korea.
“Obviously, when you come into school with a name for yourself, you’re expected to respond and have expectations to live up to. Good players live up to those expectations and perform,” Donigan said.
DiRaimondo has spent his first two-plus years as a Billiken playing up to his name. In addition to starting every regular and post-season game that SLU has played, DiRaimondo’s current streak is 44 games, including the 2005 season; he has put home eight goals and 13 assists.
His first goal came against Virginia during the 2003 season.
Although DiRaimondo has played several different positions for the Bills this season, his comfort on the field and team-first mindset makes his NCAA Championship hopes a possibility.
“[The position] doesn’t matter to me, as long as I’m on the field,” DiRaimondo said.
DiRaimondo hopes to continue playing soccer beyond his years at SLU.
“Playing in the MLS would be nice,” DiRaimondo said. “Europe would be nice, too.”
