Male athlete of the week

Name: Eric Barnes Sport: Men’s soccer Year: First-year law student … Name: Eric Barnes Sport: Men’s soccer Year: First-year law student Favorite Oakland Spot: Chipotle Favorite Food: Burrito bowl with tortilla on the side Favorite Sport besides Soccer: Hockey

In his first year at Pitt, it appears Eric Barnes is busy.

“I end up having to spend most of my time either at soccer practices or in the law building,” Barnes said.

“If I have time, I watch TV,” he said, adding some of his favorite shows are “Scrubs,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “House” and “Hogan Knows Best.”

Barnes, who likes to listen to a rock mix before games covering bands from AC/DC and Aerosmith to the Offspring and Rage Against the Machine, came to Pitt after transferring from George Mason University, where he graduated in three years. He redshirted his freshman year, giving him two years of eligibility with the Panthers.

“I was brought in by [George Mason head coach] Fran O’Leary and was told I was going to redshirt my first year behind All-American John O’Hara,” he said.

O’Hara now plays professionally for the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer League’s First Division.

After his first year at George Mason, O’Leary left to take another job. It didn’t affect Barnes at first, who started the last 14 games of the year and earned the Martin Dunphy Goalkeeper of the Year Award, a yearly award given out by George Mason.

The next year, the new coach brought in a lot of his own recruits, at least 10 according to Barnes.

“I had to decide whether I was going to transfer out or stay there and graduate,” he said. He opted for the latter and then transferred to Pitt.

“I was looking for the best combination of law school and soccer,” he said, adding he looked at Cincinnati, Duquesne, DePaul and Ohio State.

Barnes has only appeared in three games for the Panthers, as he splits time in goal with junior Jordan Marks. Earlier in the year Barnes was the goalkeeper against St. Joseph’s – Pitt’s only win thus far.

Even with the disappointing record, Barnes said the team “has been playing well and is much better than our record indicates.”

Last Friday, Pitt tied then-No. 17 South Florida, 1-1, in double overtime, and Barnes was in net for all 110 minutes.

“The result against USF shows our potential,” Barnes said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting results.”