For many, the first year of university is a time for new experiences. That is particularly true for Daniel Haber, a Toronto-born freshman at Cornell University whose first-year experiences happen to include tallying a critical goal and assist in his first game as a member of the Big Red men’s soccer team.
Daniel Haber is only one of two first-year players to start every game for Cornell. [Cornell Athletic Communications photo]
Down 2-1, Haber’s first goal with the team tied things up in the 77th minute of Cornell’s home opener against Hartwick College. An assist on junior Will Ogden’s game-winner a little more than a minute later keyed the 3-2 comeback victory and earned the 18-year-old co-rookie of the week honours amongst Ivy League squads.
But for Haber, the fondest memory came right after the goal as he was hoisted in the air by celebrating teammates.
“As I was sitting on the shoulders of my teammates and looking back at hundreds of fans cheering in the crowd,” recalled Haber, “all I could think was, ‘These next four years are going to be fun.’”
Just reaching this point has been an incredible journey for the youngest in a family of three soccer-playing brothers.
With oldest brother Jeremy attending Tufts University and Dylan enrolled at Queen’s University, Daniel, a graduate of York Mills Collegiate Institute, knew he wanted the experience of branching out and living on his own. After a three-day camp for potential soccer recruits on the Cornell campus, the decision of where to go was an easy one.
“It was always important to me to use my soccer abilities to get the best education possible, and I knew where I wanted to be once I saw the beautiful campus,” said the 5-10, 165-pound Haber. “Standing next to my father on the last day of the camp, I immediately accepted the coach’s roster spot offer.”
Life on the pitch seems to have come easily for Haber since joining the men’s team. Earning a spot in the starting lineup after a strong pre-season showing, the forward is one of only two Cornell freshmen (along with Jake Rinow) to have played in all 16 Big Red games thus far this year. On an offensively challenged team, he’s scored one of Big Red’s 13 goals.
Off the field, his Ivy League experience has been distinctly multicultural, studying alongside students from all over the world.
“Being at Cornell has given me the opportunity to get to know people from all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East and even a few from Africa,” Haber said. “My best friend here is a girl from Sri Lanka who has taught me so much about her side of the world.”
That’s not to say that Haber is new to international experiences. In fact, his soccer talents brought him to Israel in 2009 to represent Canada’s Under-18 team as part of the 18th Maccabiah Games. His Canadian side fell 3-0 to Mexico in the quarter-finals, but it was the connections he made with other Jewish athletes from all over the world that will stay with him.
“[The Games] gave me a great opportunity to meet Jewish athletes from all over the world,” said Haber. “Whether the athlete was from Canada, the United States, England or Sweden, they all played the game with respect and a humble attitude while maintaining a high level of competitiveness.”
Despite a level of soccer skill that has already taken him to Israel and is now helping him thrive at an NCAA Division-1 school, Haber has shared the same humble trait he observed in his fellow Maccabiah athletes, thanks to strong outside presences in his life.
Family has played a major role in Haber’s life, with his parents – Lorie Haber and Reena Berlind – stressing the importance of a good education and grandfather Ben Haber serving as a constant source of support for his soccer passion.
The younger Haber can always rely on his grandfather to be cheering from the sidelines while keeping him motivated with tips on how to improve his game.
Beyond family influences, Haber credits his coaches at the Thornhill soccer club Spartacus – coach Alex Shikov and club president Yuri Studin – with helping him prepare for competition at the next level. Shikov preached the importance of strong technical skills and all-around play, while Studin first recognized the potential in his former protégé at the age of 12, telling Haber he “has the potential to be great.”
Not that Haber is at a point where he can rest on his laurels. Despite the success of the home opener, the Big Red stumbled to a 4-8-5 record and their eighth losing season in the past nine. Haber will be a key element of Cornell’s attempted return to respectability in the coming years.
Looking further down the road, soccer should remain a major part of Haber’s life for a long time to come.
“I love to play soccer,” said Haber, “and I will continue to play as long as it remains enjoyable.”