Gino Cervoni was not supposed to be in this situation. The Hofstra University men’s soccer team brought in Sean Bohan from William Penn University to be the team’s starting goalkeeper. After three games, though, an injury to Bohan forced Cervoni, a management major, to step up and step between the posts for Hofstra’s Coastal Athletic Association opener against Northeastern University.
Hofstra is very close to home for Cervoni, both figuratively and literally. Not only is he one of two players to have spent the past four seasons here in Hempstead, New York, but he also went to high school at H. Frank Carey High School, in Elmont, New York, which is about a 20 minute drive from Hofstra’s campus.
“Yes [Hofstra’s location] was a really big factor for me. I looked to go to other schools, looked to go away, and ultimately when it came down for me to decide, I really didn’t want to go away,” Cervoni said. “I want to stay close to home, stay close to my family because I’m from an Italian family, so it’s hard to get away from my whole family.”
In high school, Cervoni was a two-sport athlete, participating in both soccer and lacrosse.
“I did lacrosse more to just stay in shape. It was something to do with my friends in the spring season,” Cervoni said. “The soccer coach was also the lacrosse coach. It was different, I played defense, I wasn’t a goalie in lacrosse, I tried being a lacrosse goalie, but it just wasn’t for me.”
Cervoni was very successful in net, being named to the All-Nassau County team his senior year of high school and was named conference Goalkeeper of the Year. He also was a part of state and regional champions on the club level.
This was a stark contrast to his time at Hofstra, where he did not receive any playing time his freshman or sophomore year, and only saw 22 minutes of action last season.
“It was quite a difference you know, getting the jump from high school soccer to college soccer, even from club to college, it’s just a really big jump. You’re playing with kids your age to then you’re playing with men that are almost eight years older than you,” Cervoni said. “When I was a freshman, I had teammates that were 25 [and] 26 [years old]. So, it was a really big jump, and it was hard at first, but over time I got used to it and the playing time obviously, it comes with the experience, you grow into the role.”
Cervoni is one of the Pride’s most experienced players, especially in head coach Richard Nuttall’s system, as both he and senior forward Owen Barnett are the only two players to spend the past four seasons playing for the Pride.
“I think it’s a really good thing for me and my teammates because especially with all the new guys we have this year. I know the system,” Cervoni said. “It’s different than a lot of other teams, the way they play. So, I think having [Barnett and I] for the last four years, it really helps the guys [to be] able to look up to us, if they have any questions, be able to explain anything to them. I think for the coaches as well, they have good guys to rely on.”
Cervoni has also been a vocal leader and a captain for the Pride.
“He’s a kind, caring person who’s got a social IQ,” Nutall said, “So he can understand people and he can talk to them in a manner that fits their social structure and he’s just really good at getting along with people because he is selfless and caring. People gravitate to him, and people care for him, so he’s got the respect of everybody. So, it’s easy for him to be a captain and lead the people because he’s got everybody’s respect.”
Cervoni’s mindset is simple: “I think just staying organized and just keep them knowing that I’m at their back, pushing them forward, knowing that they could take more chances, take more risks, knowing that I’m behind them and that they don’t have to worry about anything coming over the top, I’ll be there.”
His qualities are not going unnoticed. Nuttall said, “As a competitor, he is someone who is day in day out, always giving his best and continually improved every year he’s been here … every year he’s given his all and this year he was just behind on the pecking order and that guy [Sean Bohan] got injured and he’s just stepped in and done a magnificent job.
Nuttall added, “He’s just hardworking, when he’s not here he’s got a part time job and he’s good in the classroom. He’s brilliant with other people, and it makes everybody feel warm and fuzzy and welcome, and that’s what type of person [Cervoni] is, he’s always got the time for other people, and he’s got a selfless attitude so we’re very thankful.”
In Cervoni’s debut against Northeastern University, he made three saves and allowed one goal in the Pride’s 3-1 win. Between Sunday, Sept. 7, against Northeastern and Tuesday, Sept. 16, Cervoni went over 260 minutes without conceding a goal.
The build up to Cervoni’s first start was chaotic and gave him little time to prepare.
“We got delayed on Saturday and going into that, I wasn’t the starter, so [Bohan] was still playing … [Nuttall] talks a lot about mental rehearsal, [I] didn’t have time for that,” Cervoni said. “It was just a lot of nerves, it wasn’t scary, but it was definitely a different experience that I’ve had in the past.”
Despite the rise of the transfer portal throughout college sports, Cervoni has stuck it out at Hofstra, despite the lack of playing time.
“I did [consider leaving],” Cervoni said. “I wanted to play, but in the situation, the way everything fell, it just wasn’t a good time for me to go into the portal. I do love it here, from the coaches, the staff, the medical trainers [and] my teammates, it’s a good environment and I didn’t really want to leave, and I thought, let me just finish, get my degree here. Let me spend one more year here and who knows what could happen.”
“We’ve never wanted him to leave,” Nuttal said, “but we said, ‘Look, if you want to get some definite starting time, you should probably go to a slightly lesser program where you are guaranteed to start,’ and I’m so happy he’s got his moment in the spotlight.”
With Cervoni in net, the Pride have a 5-2 record, while without him, the Pride are 1-2, with Hofstra’s next game coming up at home against Northeastern on Saturday, Oct. 4.
