ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Benjamin Lazcano Barros didn't originally intend on leaving his home in Chile to play college soccer in the United States, but COVID-19 changed his plans.
With soccer in Chile reduced to virtual practices over Zoom, Lazcano Barros decided to explore his options and landed at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. Lazcano Barros started 11 of 15 matches for the Tigers in the fall of 2021 before putting his name in the transfer portal.
After connecting with Roberts Wesleyan University men's soccer coach Scott Reber through email, he decided to become a Redhawk.
Lazcano Barros has played an integral role as a defender the past two seasons, starting all 20 games this fall as the Redhawks (7-8-5) advanced to the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I National Championship for the second straight season.
 Lazcano Barros has also made his mark in the classroom. He carries a 3.64 grade point average in Business Administration and has been selected the Roberts Wesleyan University Male Scholar Athlete of the Month for November.
Lazcano Barros, who served as a team captain and was named NCCAA Midwest Region Second Team this season, hopes to pursue a career in sports as either an athletic director or sports operations manager.
A native of Concepcion (pop. 220,000), the second-largest city in Chile, Lazcano Barros enjoys spending time with his family and at the beach. While at Roberts, he enjoys exploring Rochester and its different restaurants with his teammates and friends.
Lazcano Barros took a few moments to discuss being a student-athlete at Roberts. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What attracted you to Roberts?
"The culture. In the first meeting, I could tell that there was a good culture and no player came before the team. … here it is a whole unit working together. I also wanted to come to a bigger place in a bigger city and here there are more things to do. It is also a really, really good school and I am glad that I came here."
Did you look at the roster and see that the team has players from all over the world?
"For sure, that was a huge factor. I was looking for a good level of soccer and having so many players from so many different cultures, I knew that it was going to be a good level of soccer and that is something that definitely helped me decide to come here."
What did it mean to you to be named a captain in just your second season with the program?
"That was a huge honor. Being named a captain after Jared (Gibbons) and Marc (Blackburn) graduating was not easy. They were two guys that were huge for this program for the past four years, so they were not easy shoes to fill. It was really big for me. Having only been with the program for one year and having my teammates and my coaches see me as a leader is something that made me really proud. During the season I tried to prove every single day that they did not make a mistake."
How would you describe your style of play?
"Coach will say that it is just 'blue-collar hard work.' I am not here to score goals or to create chances, most of the time I am just here to try to stop the other team from scoring goals. I try to do my best at that and to be a leader. I am a really hard worker on the field and I am just here to do what is best for the team."
I have been told that you have a pretty good sense of humor?
"(Laughs) I do, I do for sure. I try to bring joy to the team every single day."

What inspired you to dress up like Ted Lasso for practice on Halloween?
"I went to the store looking for outfits for Halloween and I saw that and I knew that if I wore that to practice that all of the guys would love it, and they did. We were at a really important part of our season, too, so I just wanted everybody to relax a bit and remember that there are more important things to life than soccer."
What was the trip to Florida like?
"It was an amazing experience. Of course, we all wanted to go and win a national championship, so we are kind of disappointed about that but being able to hang out with the guys and winning our group stage against the No. 1 seed. In general it was a great experience and to play our best soccer of the season down there and I am just really proud of the guys. How it ended up made us all hungry for next year."
You have the experience of being at a different college, so what do you like the most about Roberts?
"My favorite part about Roberts is that it is a family-oriented school. We have people from all over the world, not just in soccer, and everyone treats you well. Everyone knows you here and everyone says hi to you and knows your name, you are not just a number. Here, every professor cares about you and every member of the staff and faculty is actually here to help make you a better person and to help you grow."
Have you had a favorite class or favorite professor at Roberts?
"Professor, I will say (Assistant Professor of Management) Lindsey Mwene, she is like my second Mom here. Every time that I am struggling with a class or if I want to just talk about life, I go see her. She has been huge for me here."
What is your favorite type of food?
"Italian food."
What is your favorite dish?
"Gnocchis."