(Originally written for print edition of The Oct. 9, 2013 Oregonian SW Weekly OREGONLIVE Duncan Atwood Sports Spot

Name: Duncan AtwoodAge: 17

Hometown: Lake Oswego

DuncanAtwood-10-9-13-SportsSpot.jpgLake Oswego goalkeeper Duncan Atwood photo by

Grade/School: Senior at Lake Oswego High School

Sport:
Soccer

Position: Goalkeeper

Team Name: Lakers

Coach: Fraser Morrison

Highlights of season: “We have a solid group of seniors for our final year of high school soccer, and we also had a great pre-season. We won our first game against Clackamas with a last minute winning goal by fellow senior Kyle Gazzigli.”

How he got started:
“I’ve played soccer since my parents signed me up in kindergarten and club soccer since fifth grade.”

Coach’s advice: “It’s nice to be important, but important to be nice.” – Fraser Morrison

Favorite part of sport: “My favorite part about soccer is how simple it is. The ability to play wherever I am and with whoever is truly something special. All you need is an open space, a ball, and some friends.”

Favorite meal the night before the big event:
“Pasta with garlic bread and chocolate milk. Every day before a game (Mondays & Wednesdays) the parents of one of the players host a pasta feed and have pasta, salad, and chocolate milk.”

Other sports: “Tennis, city league basketball, and skiing.”

Rules to live by:
“My moral compass is based on two main ideas; don’t take anything too seriously, and do what makes you happy.”

Memorable advice and who said it: “My favorite advice comes from my long time club goalkeeper coach, Angela Harrison. ‘One of the wisest and truest things I’ve ever read was a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” You can accomplish anything, be anything you want to be by keeping that in mind.'”

Giving back: “Every summer for the past four years I have helped out at a soccer camp for elementary school kids that Fraser helps run with the Lake Oswego Soccer Club.”

On his iPod:
“My iPod is full of music, ranging from rapper Eminem to the relaxing acoustics of Jack Johnson. But my favorite pre-game song would be ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’ by Mac Miller.”

Favorite books: My favorite books to read have been the Redwall series by Brian Jacques since I was in elementary school.

The one thing someone may not know about me
: “I love traveling and experiencing different cultures. I spent my second semester of junior year abroad in Costa Rica living with a host family and going to the public high school, which was an amazing and life changing experience for me.”

What’s next?
My goals for our soccer team during this season are to make playoffs and finish within the top three places in the Three Rivers League. My personal goal is to allow less than 10 goals all year.

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