Danny Cepero C’08 walked out of the locker room, shook hands with a few coaches, and quietly left PPL Park in Chester.
The former Penn soccer star had just been given a dream opportunity to suit up for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer … but Cepero knew it was only a fleeting dream.
He had been borrowed on loan from his current team, the Harrisburg City Islanders of the lower-level United Soccer Leagues, because the Union’s backup goalkeeper, Brad Knighton, was serving a one-game suspension. And with the Islanders’ season about to wrap up this weekend – and the prospects of returning to MLS on a more permanent basis a daunting one – Cepero left the stadium following Wednesday night’s game unsure of his next move.
“It comes down to the question: Do I want to keep playing soccer or will I look to move in a different direction?” said Cepero, who didn’t see any game action for the Union. “I’m exploring all of my different options soccer-wise and outside of soccer in terms of getting internships and getting my foot in the door somewhere. I’m 25 so the clock’s ticking.”
Not long ago, Cepero’s soccer future seemed more certain. After logging more shutouts (23) than any other goalie in Penn history, Cepero found his way onto the prestigious MLS side, the New York Red Bulls, where he scored an incredible goal in his debut before leading them to the 2008 title game.
But after a rough 2009 campaign, Cepero was cut by the Red Bulls – which, he admitted in a previous blog post, was a surprising turn of events. He’s played for the Islanders throughout most of this season, and was eager to return to Major League Soccer this week, if only for one game.
“It was a cool experience,” Cepero said. “Under the circumstances, they needed a goalkeeper in case something happened to (starter) Chris (Seitz). Being I went to school in Philly and I know the area and I know some of the guys on the team, that helped a lot in terms of training.”
Penn assistant soccer coach Rob Irvine and former player Mike Klein W’09 were among the Quaker contingent in the crowd in support of Cepero. If they don’t come to Harrisburg’s season finale Saturday, it may be their last chance to see him on a soccer field.
Cepero — who a year ago told the Pennsylvania Gazette, “I love what I do, but I also know that it’s not going to last forever” — is planning to return to his home in Long Island, polish up his resume and search for other ways to make a living.
“I’m looking at PR and marketing and advertising,” said Cepero, who got his Penn degree in May of last year. “Based on the fact that I haven’t been crunching numbers in Wharton or doing much of anything besides soccer, that would be the easiest transition.”
Then he added uncertainly, “I’ll just see what happens and go from there.”
No matter what happens, he can always say he was once on the Philadelphia Union.
