Robbie Findley (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain HS), a senior forward on the Oregon State men’s soccer team, is one of the most dangerous attacking players on the West Coast. With 22 career goals, he is fourth all-time at Oregon State. He’ll tie the school record of 32 goals if he matches the 10 goals he scored in his first year, when he was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Findley is a three-time All-Pac-10 selection (twice on the first team). He sat down for a few minutes to talk about the upcoming season and his future.
How do you feel going into your senior year?
“It’s all gone by fast. I’m ready to win a Pac-10 championship. I feel like our team is ready. We have a lot of talent and skill so this might be our year.”
The team went to the NCAA Tournament your freshman year, and last year the team almost made it. How motivated are you to lead this team to the tournament?
“I’m very motivated. I’ve been working for the past three years to get there. My freshman year, when we went to the tournament, I had a groin injury, so I was a little iffy playing. Everybody has their heart set on making the tournament. We’re pretty serious and I think we’ll get it done this year.”
You’ve had to battle through a few minor injuries during your time here. How’s your health now?
“I’ve been healthy the past year and I’m feeling strong and fit. I’m ready to have a good senior year.”
How would you describe your first three years at Oregon State?
“At first it was tough, going from Phoenix to Corvallis. The weather change and all that stuff. It was a learning experience, being away from my family and meeting a bunch of new guys. But they brought me in as part of the family here. It’s been a good experience.”
Coming out of Phoenix, why did you choose Oregon State?
“I wanted to play in the Pac-10. A few of my cousins, Mike Bibby (Arizona basketball and the current point guard for the Sacramento Kings), Shaun McDonald (Arizona State football and a current wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams) and Ryan Walcott (UCLA basketball) all played in the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is a real strong conference so if I wanted to play somewhere, I wanted it to be among the best.”
What’s been the best part of being at Oregon State?
“All of the moments I’ve had with the team. There have been so many fun times. I’ve just tried to embrace everything we’ve done as a team, and all of the people I meet.”
The last two summers, you played with the Boulder Rapids Reserve in the USL Premier Development League. What was that like and how did that help you as a player?
“I went there to play for a few reasons. One, basically, was to get games in and to stay fit over the summer. It also gave me a chance to play in front of a lot of MLS coaches. It gave me exposure there. Playing with Colorado helped me out quite a bit. Both years we made it to the playoffs.”
Where do you hope to be playing next year?
“Playing professional soccer somewhere. It’s been my dream since I was a little kid. I’ve been putting in the hard work so I hope it pays off pretty soon. I’d like to start here in MLS and someday go overseas.”
You have dual citizenship with the U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago, and have taken part in a T&T U-23 national team camp. Do you have a future playing for their national team?
“Both my mom and dad were born there, so that let me get dual citizenship. When I went there and tried out, it was hard for me, because it seemed like a lot of the players that were invited already knew the coaches and were residents of Trinidad & Tobago. It was tough for me because I didn’t know anyone. I’m not too sure what’s going to happen in the future. It would be nice to get called up to play with them down the line.”
You mentioned your cousins earlier. How have they helped you along the way?
“They’re very professional about how they do their jobs. They work out every day and I’ve gone to the gym to work out with them. They work out hard, take extra shots, do all the extra practice they need to get better. Growing up, I picked up on that and I try to do all the little things to get better.”
Mike Bibby came and watched you and the Beavers play last year at a game at UC Davis. You must have a pretty supportive family.
“Yeah, definitely. If I’m in the area, then they’ll be there.”
You’ve won a lot of honors here – Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-10, All-West Region, Pac-10 Player of the Week a couple of times. What do those accomplishments mean to you?
“It’s about the hard work. But I have to give credit to my teammates because without them none of it would have been possible. You put in a lot of hard days at practice, all the hard workouts, and it’s all about the dedication.”