Lowery is on-field architect

Justin Lowery is an architect on and off the soccer field.

He sees the way things are… Justin Lowery is an architect on and off the soccer field.

He sees the way things are designed and develops new ways to make them better. He applies his off-field studies of architecture on the field.

Lowery, the sophomore goalkeeper for the Pitt men’s soccer team, has always been a big fan of architecture. When he was younger, his uncle would buy him model houses that had floor plans and designs to follow for building them.

“I’d take all the pieces and change it,” Lowery said. He would completely alter the design with the materials provided, and put something original together – something better, according to him.

Much the same can be said of what Lowery is doing on the soccer field. In his first year starting for the Panthers, Lowery is beginning to take the role of leader, as many goalkeepers often do.

“He takes a leadership role on the field,” Panthers’ defender Jacob Kring said. “When people are down [Lowery will] pick them up.”

Kring went on to explain that it is not only what Lowery says to fellow teammates, but also how he plays.

“[Lowery] makes everyone relax,” midfielder Marco Carrizales said.

Teammates will go to Lowery at halftime for advice.

“I really understand the game,” Lowery said.

At the goalkeeper position, Lowery has a great view of the field. He can see the runs the strikers should be making and he can see if his team is not possessing the ball enough.

He can also see who is getting caught too far up the field. Through all these observations, he can tell his teammates exactly what needs to be done and who needs to do what.

Lowery’s knowledge of play on the field does not stem from his goalkeeper observations alone. He has played at the forward position before. In fact, Lowery is still new to the goalkeeper position.

“I’m still learning,” Lowery said. “I know I can be a lot better [at] keeper.”

Lowery made the switch to goalkeeper during his freshman year of high school. His club team was getting ready to participate in a tournament, and their starting goalkeeper came up with an injury before its start.

Lowery was fooling around with teammates, and he acted as if he was goalie, stopping his teammate’s shots. His coach took notice of him and asked him to play in net in place of their injured starter. Lowery agreed, and he was eventually named the MVP of the tournament as result of his play in net.

Lowery continued to play the keeper position for his club team, while playing forward for his high school team. In his final two years at Paideia School, he recorded 54 goals and 41 assists at the forward position.

“I just love soccer,” Lowery said. “I wouldn’t play any other sport.”

He said he wouldn’t, but he has. Lowery was a wide receiver and a safety for his high school football team. He was also a key player on his high school’s basketball team. Lowery hit a three pointer to win the game in the finals of the regional championship.

Lowery is always looking to make the big play. He is very competitive and will do anything to win. “I hate to lose in anything I do,” he said. He plays video games with Carrizales and Kring.

“If I lose, I just sit there,” Lowery said.

Lowery reflects over losses and looks to build on what he has learned, so the mistakes he made do not happen again. After games, he likes to go to his home in Oakland, where he lives by himself. He goes over all the positives and the negatives in the game.

Lowery watches not only his game tapes, but also any soccer game he can get his hands on. He subscribes to Fox Sports World from his cable provider, and watches many international soccer games.

“I learn from every game I watch,” Lowery said.

Lowery especially likes watching Tim Howard of Manchester United.

“He’s a great keeper,” he said. “He just stepped up and made a name for himself.”

Tim Howard has made an instant impact with Manchester United, recording four shutouts in seven matches. Lowery, likewise, has made an instant impact for the Panthers.

His first collegiate start was a 1-0 win over nationally ranked Boston College, and he has gone on to add two more shutouts as the season has progressed.

Another goalkeeper Lowery has been able to watch and learn from was longtime Panthers’ starter Justin Gaul, whom Lowery replaced.

Kirk Brodows, the assistant coach, had Lowery watch Gaul all last year. Lowery learned from Gaul’s techniques. He learned what to do in certain situations, by watching the steps he would take and where he’d put his hands.

With the knowledge Lowery is gaining from hard work on and off the practice field, he is showing that there is a promising future for Pitt soccer.

“He’s coming along,” coach Joe Luxbacher said, “He’s got great potential, and he’s getting more confidence.”

Lowery says the main thing he reminds himself of on the field is to remember what Brodows tells him. “Stay up, read the play, pick up the head on breakaways.”

Eleven of their 13 contests this season have been one-goal games. Lowery believes the Panthers can still turn their season around this year, since they are a young team and have many young players who are stepping up.

Even so, with a young team, the Panthers have a promising future because of the number of starters returning next year. Lowery has two years left, and he wants to step up just as Tim Howard did for Manchester United.

“I’d like to make a name for myself,” Lowery said. “If [an opponent] puts it on net, I’m going to save it,”