The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

Late start in net paying dividends for Carillo

Derby Carrillo isn’t your
ordinary goalkeeper.

The 6-4 California native, who wears the No. 13 jersey, is a starting Division I goalkeeper who began playing the position right before his senior year of high school.

“I started playing goalie because of penalty kicks,” the redshirt senior said.

“When I was younger, whenever there was a penalty kick, my coach would throw me into goal.

“I would just block the shots; I had tenacity in goal. I started doing that and one thing led to another and I was in goal.

I only started playing goalie on my club team going into senior year.”

Despite the late start, Carrillo was recently named to the Big East’s weekly Honor Roll and named Big East Goalkeeper of the Week.

He is tied for first in the Big East with four shutouts.

Before his days at St. John’s, Carrillo attended Cal State Dominguez Hills, a
Division II school, and posted a 13-3-1 record in two seasons with the Toros. He was instrumental in leading the Toros
to win two consecutive CCAA Championships, finishing second in the nation with a .53 GAA and fourth in the nation with a .867 save percentage.

In his two years at Dominguez Hills,
Carillo was named as a Daktronics first
team All-American, first team All-Region and first team CCAA selection.

Even though he had
success at Dominguez Hills, Carillo felt his college experience still fell short and lacked something.

“I was at a Division II school and I wanted more,” Carillo said. “I talked to my club coach and he told me about St. John’s and said that they needed a goalie.”

Carillo transferred to St. John’s, but didn’t make the immediate impact he had while at Dominguez Hills.

When he arrived in Queens, he had to fight for every single minute of playing time. Last
season, Carillo competed with the now-departed Neal Kitson.
“Neal is a great goalie and he had a great season last year,” Carillo said. “Being behind him last year made me push myself more. During his time here, he didn’t play that much in the beginning.”
Carrillo edged out sophomore Nunzio Belifore and hotshot rookie goalkeeper Rafael Diaz, playing with the Newark Ironbound soccer club and
coming into this season a
lot more confident.
“Each game that I go out there, I got to prove to myself that I should be out there and I need to work hard or work harder than the guys who are trying to beat me. There is no reason why we shouldn’t win.”

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