Redhawks' Prince and Garza verbally commit
By Gary Larsen

A pair of Naperville Central coach Jay Konrad’s players has put the weighty decision on where to play college soccer behind them.

The Redhawks’ Chris Prince has verbally committed to play for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and teammate Art Garza will don a DePaul uniform next season.

“It was one of the first schools I was in contact with. I went on a visit there and ended up really liking it,” Prince said of Wisconsin.

Prince’s initial decision took a twist and a turn when Wisconsin’s previous coach left the program. He sent new Badgers’ coach Todd Yeagley an email, and Yeagley came down to watch Prince play.

The offer from Wisconsin remained and Prince took it. Both the academic standards at the school and the program’s quick style of play appealed to him. Prince is a natural midfielder and may roam the pitch up top for this year’s Redhawks.

“Chris has got good speed and he can go to goal very well,” Konrad said. “He has a midfielder’s mindset, he keeps the ball moving, and he’s unselfish.”

Garza was drawn to DePaul for similar reasons.

“I really liked (DePaul coach Craig Blazer) and the style of soccer they play,” Garza said. “A lot of give-and-go, very technical, and it suits my style.”

Garza considered Notre Dame and Georgetown. “From an academic standpoint and a soccer standpoint, DePaul was the best fit for me,” said Garza, an attacking player who like Prince has moved around the field for Konrad.

“Art is like a student of the game,” Konrad said. “His dad has coached and Art is one of those soccer purists. He loves possession, he’s got good touch.”