MORAGA, Calif. -- (SMCGaels.com) -- For many college students, summer break is reserved for plenty of sun, fun and relaxation. A time to get away for vacation or return home to reconnect with family and friends.

But, for Saint Mary's rising senior goalkeeper Lucas Champenois summer time provides an opportunity to contine to improve his skills and prepare for the upcoming season.

The Mountain View, Calif. native is spending his second consecutive summer in New Mexico playing for Albuquerque Sol FC of the Premier Development League (PDL).  He is among the league's leaders in several statistical categories and has developed into quite a fan favorite.

The PDL features 65 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada in 2015, including 10 teams affiliated with USL PRO or Major League Soccer clubs.  The season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. 

We caught up recently with Lucas to see how his experience in Albuquerque is going.

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Q:  Can you describe what you been up to this summer?
A:  "I'm playing in the PDL with Albuquerque Sol FC. I got to Albuquerque after the season started and I missed the first two games.  But, since I've arrived the team has gone undefeated (so far). We train every morning and evening and play games in the Mountain Division of the PDL.  We just clinched a spot in the playoffs this weekend. If we earn one more point in our next four games, we clinch our division as well. In addition to playing, since the Sol is only in its second year of existence, we help a lot with promotion and growth of the club. We have conducted several camps for kids, met and talked to certain investors and done some promotion during Women's World Cup watch parties. Personally, I've had a good season so far. I'm at the top of the stat boards for goalkeepers in several categories."

Q:  Apparently, you’ve developed quite the following at Sol for more than your goalkeeping.  Specifically for your trademark beard.  How do you like being such a visible fan favorite?    Any interesting stories?  How did the fan chant “Fear The Beard” come about?
A:  "It's really cool. This is the first time I've had people come up to me after games and ask for pictures or autographs. We have two different supporters groups who are very vocal during the games and give me a shout out pretty much any time I touch the ball.  Usually during games the Twitter hastags #fearthebeard and #cleansheetchampenois are trending - which is awesome.  A few fans chanted "fear the beard" after a save I made in the first game and it really took off from there. Before each game the Sol Twitter account asks fans to guess how many saves I'm going to have in each game. Some people just call me "The Beard" now.  Just as much as the beard though, my last name is pretty popular out here. The PA announcer loves to yell my name through the speakers after I make a save then all the kids in the stands love to yell it back after him. When we play away games, the announcers have a nightmare pronouncing it - which is kind of funny too."

Q:  How has the Sol performed this season and who are some of the key players and why?
A:  "We've had a great season, so far. We're on a 9-win unbeaten streak right now, 11 if you count friendlies against the Colorado Rapids development team and a newly promoted first division Mexican League team. We just secured our spot in the playoffs for the first time ever. There are several very good players on the team. Manuel Campos is one. He played professionally in Mexico for Cruz Azul and he is so much fun to watch. The way he plays is beautiful. The things he does to defenders are almost embarrassing. We also have an English player who played for Norwich City FC. He is a very smart player who obviously played at a very high level and it shows. We also have a center back from Spain, Carlos Sendin, who is one of the most quiet people I've ever met but he is very good on the field."

Q:  What would you say has been your best performance of the summer and why?
A:  "I'd have to say either at BYU or at home against FC Tucson. In both games I made good saves to either keep the game tied or keep the lead. We ended up winning both games by one goal which made those saves even more important. During both of those games I had saves I can put on a highlight video.  But, since Tucson is our rival I think I have to go with that one. A lot of people tell me I had the game of my life against Lobos BUAP (the Mexican team). I had a lot to do in that game and made a triple save on the last play of the game to keep it tied at 0-0, which is up for one of the nicer saves I've ever made.  But, they also hit the post twice during that game so I think I got a little lucky, too."

Q:  You were named to the PDL Team of the Week earlier this summer.  Can you explain how came about and how you felt when you heard the news?
A:   "It was actually the first week I was with the team. We traveled to Colorado and had two games against the Real Colorado Foxes (3-0 and 0-0). I registered two straight shutouts in two days so the league took notice. I wouldn't say we kept the shutouts solely because of me, but more because of some great defense as a whole. I was still very happy to get the recognition. Last summer, I made honorable mention for the team of the week so I was very happy to see my name up there this year. I've been trying to make it a second time so that maybe my name comes up when they discuss PDL goalkeeper of the year."

A:  There have been a few tweets that show you making radio appearances in Albuquerque.  Tell us a bit about that.
A:  "I've actually been on the radio twice since I've been here. I had never been on the radio before so I didn't know what to expect. But, one of my team mates and I were asked to be guests on a local sports radio station. I didn't know if I had performed well or not until practice the next morning when some of my teammates said they heard it, which was a relief. I also had a few of the supporters tweet me about it. I'm just really glad I didn't make a fool of myself.  They asked me about the goal I scored at Saint Mary's which was awesome, I got to show off a little bit." 

Q:  Albuquerque is obviously a little different than Northern California in a number of ways.  How have you liked spending time in New Mexico?  What do you like?  What do you least like?  Any good sightseeing trips?
A:  "It's very different. First of all it's always too hot here. It's also very isolated.  In the Bay Area you can drive for hours on the freeway and always see houses and businesses everywhere. Once you leave Albuquerque, you don't see much. It isn't a bad place, though. It's an ideal place to train. It's in the altitude, which is improving my fitness a lot, and I get to play in a variety of weather conditions. I should have no excuses when I get back to California! We had a day off yesterday and I drove up to Durango, Colorado which is about three hours away. We spent the day at the lake. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I took a paddle board out to the middle of the lake and napped for half an hour. We also plan on hiking up Sandia Peak whenever we have time.  That should be amazing too."

Q:  Have you kept up with how Andre Rawls is doing in his first professional season and what do you think of his performances as a pro so far?
A:  "I have been following Andre. I saw that injury he got and saw how he just joked about it a little.  He's an unreal athlete and fighter so I know that didn't slow him down at all. I learned a lot from him while he was at SMC and it is awesome to see him continue his career as a professional."

Q:  Saint Mary’s has developed quite a tradition of solid goalkeeping the last several years with Doug Herrick and Andre.   What impact have those guys had on you and what do you think about the competition with Andrew Konstantino for time this fall?  What do you think of the coaching of Chris Brown?
A:  "Like I said I learned a lot from Andre when he was here. He was a very good player and leader. I only played with Doug a few times when he visited, but when he trains with us I can really tell why he went pro too.  Both those guys are very good. It's awesome that they both still stay in touch with us and follow us as much as we follow them. Tino is a very good goalkeeper, too. I know that he and I pushed each other a lot this past spring season and the team benefits from that competition. It's a strange relationship goalies have. We all wish the best for each other, but we're fighting for one spot. I like it though.  Tino is a great guy and I hope the two freshman we are bringing in push us, as well. Chris is as good a goalie coach as he is a person. I love him. I've learned a lot from him, but one of the things I like the most about Chris is his ability to make me calm and get me ready. He knows how to speak to all the players, especially 'keepers. Off the field, he's a great guy and one of the funniest people I know." 

Q:  With high expectations due to a solid group of returning players and a talented incoming class, what do you think of the Gaels' chances heading into this season?
A:  "I think it's our season to lose this year. We showed well last year when we upset some big schools and I think we will show our quality again this year. We have a lot of experience coming back and a lot of guys hungry to win the West Coast Conference and make the tournament. I think the team chemistry we developed last year will just grow this season, too. We are a very tight-knit team. We are going into every game this season expecting to win, it's as simple as that."

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