This week, The Dartmouth sat down with incoming men’s soccer player Daniel Hazlett ’18. In his senior year, Hazlett led the Hanover High School men’s soccer team to an undefeated season and a Division I state championship. He was also named the Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Soccer Player of the Year for the fall season. He’ll join the varsity soccer team after his Dartmouth Outing Club first-year trip: hiking three, through the White Mountains.
What does winning the New Hampshire Gatorade player of the year mean to you?
DH: It was really nice. It feels good to see all your hard work pay off at the end, and it was at the perfect time senior year after winning the state championship with a great group of guys. I couldn’t have done it without them, but it was a great way to top it all off.
You led your team to an undefeated record and a Division I state championship. How did you guys do it?
DH: It was a long time coming. Hanover has always had a great soccer program, and we were actually in Division II for many years just because of our class size. Two years ago they moved us up to Division I, and, in our first year, we lost in the finals. Everyone was surprised because they had no idea we’d be that good. Then this past year, we were just really good from the back line all the way up to the front. It was just a group of seniors who had been playing together since we were 10, so we had that click, and we had good chemistry. The best part was that our coaches never really cared about the results. All they wanted us to do was play for each other and have fun out there. That helped a lot.
You were recruited by a number of schools. Why did you decide to come to Dartmouth?
DH: I’ve always wanted to go to Dartmouth since I was 2 years old. Since I’ve lived here, I’ve been watching them for a long time. It was something I’ve just wanted to do since I was really young.
How is the team looking this year and where do you see yourself fitting in?
DH: The team is looking pretty good. A lot of very good freshman are coming in who are all very good players, and we only lost six seniors last year. For me, I won’t be participating in pre-season so I’ll be going on my freshman trip, and then during orientation is when I’ll join the team.
How did you spend your summer?
DH: I’ve actually been working a lot at a farm in Norwich. Its been a new experience because I’ve never done it before. I was interested in doing it because I went to Costa Rica over spring break and one of the days was dedicated to visiting a farm and seeing how it works. We worked there the whole day, and we got to eat whatever we picked and made. I thought it was really cool, so I wanted to try it out this summer.
What about Dartmouth are you most excited about?
DH: Everything man, there’s a lot. I’m so excited to be there with a few friends from high school, and obviously it’s a very good school academically. There are a ton of things I’m looking forward to, I think it’ll be a lot of fun.
Where are you living in the fall? Do you know your roommate?
DH: Yeah, I’m living in Berry in McLaughlin. I got very lucky, I hear, with a really good dorm. I actually just hit up my roommate on Facebook the other day. I don’t know much about him other than his name, so I’ll just have to meet him.
What did you think about the World Cup and Team USA?
DH: Nobody expected them to do that well, to be honest. No one thought they would get out of their group with Germany, Portugal and Ghana. So I think they performed pretty well for what they were given. I think the future is looking really good, there are a lot of young guys playing over in Europe that will be really good in two to three years. Next World Cup hopefully we’ll be going a little further.
Who’s your favorite player?
DH: That’s an easy one. Ronaldo.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
