Jeremy Vuolo has posted six shutouts for AC Oulu this season.
Photo by: AC Oulu
Catching Up With Jeremy Vuolo
8/17/2011 12:55:17 PM | Men's Soccer
Vuolo Highlights
SUathletics.com recently caught up with former men's soccer goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo to talk about his experiences playing professionally in Finland. Vuolo currently plays for AC Oulu. He has six shutouts this season and earned game MVP honors following the team's 1-0 shutout of OPS in the Oulu City Derby on June 22. The team has won their past three games and is in fourth place in the Ykkonen – Finland's second division.
Q: You've been playing for AC Oulu since February. How has the whole experience been?
A: Overall, it has been tremendous. I have been forced to step outside of my comfort zone, not only as a goalkeeper, but as a person as well. Living in a foreign country certainly requires some adjusting, but I have enjoyed it.
Q: What is Finland like?
A: It is much slower-paced than what I'm used to in the States and the people are, for the most part, very shy and quiet. One of the first things I noticed after arriving here, aside from it being -22 degrees, was little 10 year-old kids running around outside by themselves at 11 o'clock at night. That's unheard of in America, but here it's common place. The society as a whole is very peaceful with any serious crime being almost nonexistent.
Q: Playing overseas, is it tough communicating with your teammates?
A: Surprisingly, communication has not been an issue. The Fins begin learning English in third grade so they are able to speak it quite well. Aside from a few of my teammates, who didn't pay attention in school (laughing), we communicate without any problem.
Q: What is a typical day like for you when you're not on the pitch?
A: My apartment is only a five-minute walk from downtown so I spend a lot of time in the city. On a day off, I typically go for a morning jog around town and then, depending on our game schedule that week, I'll do a light lift in the gym. In the afternoons I'll meet up with a teammate for lunch or coffee and just relax downtown. There are a lot of nice restaurants in the city so for dinner I have enjoyed eating at different places, but I have also been teaching myself how to cook. My skills in the kitchen are slowly improving, but pasta with meat sauce is still my specialty!
Q: What's the biggest difference between playing collegiate soccer and playing with a professional club?
A: The first difference I noticed, and struggled with the most when I arrived, was the speed of play. It is a much faster tempo and it requires you to think several steps ahead and be prepared before you receive the ball. Also, it is a more intense, demanding environment. You have to be at the top of your game every session, otherwise you get exposed right away.
Q: Any words of encouragement for this year's SU soccer team?
A: Yeah, I'm looking forward to watching them in the BIG EAST Tournament finals in November. I know they have set high expectations for themselves and I'm excited to see them succeed.
SUathletics.com recently caught up with former men's soccer goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo to talk about his experiences playing professionally in Finland. Vuolo currently plays for AC Oulu. He has six shutouts this season and earned game MVP honors following the team's 1-0 shutout of OPS in the Oulu City Derby on June 22. The team has won their past three games and is in fourth place in the Ykkonen – Finland's second division.
Q: You've been playing for AC Oulu since February. How has the whole experience been?
A: Overall, it has been tremendous. I have been forced to step outside of my comfort zone, not only as a goalkeeper, but as a person as well. Living in a foreign country certainly requires some adjusting, but I have enjoyed it.
Q: What is Finland like?
A: It is much slower-paced than what I'm used to in the States and the people are, for the most part, very shy and quiet. One of the first things I noticed after arriving here, aside from it being -22 degrees, was little 10 year-old kids running around outside by themselves at 11 o'clock at night. That's unheard of in America, but here it's common place. The society as a whole is very peaceful with any serious crime being almost nonexistent.
Q: Playing overseas, is it tough communicating with your teammates?
A: Surprisingly, communication has not been an issue. The Fins begin learning English in third grade so they are able to speak it quite well. Aside from a few of my teammates, who didn't pay attention in school (laughing), we communicate without any problem.
Q: What is a typical day like for you when you're not on the pitch?
A: My apartment is only a five-minute walk from downtown so I spend a lot of time in the city. On a day off, I typically go for a morning jog around town and then, depending on our game schedule that week, I'll do a light lift in the gym. In the afternoons I'll meet up with a teammate for lunch or coffee and just relax downtown. There are a lot of nice restaurants in the city so for dinner I have enjoyed eating at different places, but I have also been teaching myself how to cook. My skills in the kitchen are slowly improving, but pasta with meat sauce is still my specialty!
Q: What's the biggest difference between playing collegiate soccer and playing with a professional club?
A: The first difference I noticed, and struggled with the most when I arrived, was the speed of play. It is a much faster tempo and it requires you to think several steps ahead and be prepared before you receive the ball. Also, it is a more intense, demanding environment. You have to be at the top of your game every session, otherwise you get exposed right away.
Q: Any words of encouragement for this year's SU soccer team?
A: Yeah, I'm looking forward to watching them in the BIG EAST Tournament finals in November. I know they have set high expectations for themselves and I'm excited to see them succeed.
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