Roman Guzman, a junior defender for Providence, traveled to Sweden in July to participate in the Gothia Cup, noted as the largest international youth soccer tournament worldwide. His experience in Sweden enriched him with newfound knowledge and a burst of motivation.
Guzman remarked on the stark contrast he felt between American and Swedish soccer. “It was very different,” he said. “Coming from America and going all the way over there, an 18-hour flight away, the second I got there you could feel a difference. The technicality, the physical aspect, all of it was just on steroids. It was all amplified. It was incredible.”
He leveraged his experience in Monday’s season opener, contributing a goal and an assist in Providence’s dominant 7-0 nonconference victory over Joliet Catholic. Jovanny Gonzalez showcased strong performance for Providence (1-0), scoring twice and making an assist. Other scorers included Billy Savarino with a goal and assist, and Christian Hofferica, Aldo Dominguez, and Chris Serrano each contributing a goal. Aleksander Chavez and Caleb Pintar collaborated for the shutout, with Chavez notably saving a penalty kick.
The defensive unit, led by Guzman, Luca Bullion, Cameron Klene, James Nagle, and Cooper Wojcik, limited Joliet Catholic (0-1) to one shot on goal. Hilltoppers’ keeper Mark Vasecka recorded six saves. The match marked the 600th career win for Providence coach Mike Taylor.
“I don’t keep track but Mike Stacy, who does social media for us, was asking me about it over the summer and I started to add it up and I was like, ‘Oh, shoot, I’m one away from 600,’” Taylor said. “That really surprised me. It’s been a lot of fun and I’m still having fun. The kids keep me young.”
Providence began strong on Monday, attaining a 4-0 advantage in the first half. Guzman scored the second goal of his varsity career before halftime, capitalizing on a rebound after Leo Mendoza hit a shot off the post.
“It’s very fun to score goals, especially with this team,” Guzman said. “They’re a great group of guys to be around. It’s always fun to score and celebrate with my brothers.”
Guzman enjoyed his time in Sweden immensely, playing with LA Bulls of MLS Next. “It was a really good experience,” he shared. “I was able to lead a group of guys that I had just met. I was able to be team captain. I got an assist over there. It was all great.”
Following his return, Guzman feels prepared to play a significant role for the Celtics. Surprisingly, he might have been representing the opposing team that Monday. Initially, Guzman considered attending Joliet Catholic as a Joliet native. His friendship with Jovanny Gonzalez, who he considers like a brother, persuaded him to join Providence.
“I was leaning toward JCA, but I’ve been friends with Jovanny Gonzalez since we were 5 years old,” Guzman said. “He talked to me and got me to go with the Celtics. I’m glad I came here. It’s always fun playing against Joliet Catholic.”
Gonzalez, too, is pleased with Guzman’s choice to join the team.
“I’ve played with Roman ever since I started the sport at the park district when I was 5 years old,” Gonzalez said. “I was trying to talk some guys into coming here and I thought of Roman right away. He’s really dedicated. When he sticks to a goal, he gets it done. He worked his way to be here and get a spot on varsity. I love him to death. He’s like a little brother to me.”
Guzman now plays with renewed determination, aiming to perform on even grander stages in the future. His transformative Swedish experience ignited his ambition.
“It just flicked a switch in me,” Guzman said. “All I want is to go back. It was such a blessing to be able to play at such a high level.”