NIC soccer duo consistent, dynamic players

The NIC men’s soccer team’s success this year is due in no small part to two young men who traveled the length of the state to play for the Cardinals – sophomores Garga Caserta and Mike Hildebrandt. In Caserta’s case, his journey started a little farther away: Araqatuba, Brazil.

Caserta landed in Idaho Falls in 2003 courtesy of his hometown Rotary Club’s exchange program and the generosity of Hildebrandt’s family. Hildebrandt, a goalie since age 13, and Caserta starred on Idaho Falls High’s state-conquering soccer team, which led to NIC’s scholarship offers. Roommates at NIC for the last two years, they are currently looking to further their education and on-field collaborations at another Northwest college for their junior and senior years.

His father molded Caserta, an attack-midfielder, at an early age.

“My father was a goalkeeper and he convinced me not to follow in his footsteps,” Caserta said.

Caserta scored 14 goals and had five assists last season and is improving on those stats this season.

Caserta is a quick and adept ball handler, knifing passes to teammates or rifling off a shot on goal. Often you hear the sound of his foot’s impact with the ball after the ball is already in the net.

Hildebrandt’s talents lie in his calm and confident demeanor while tending the opposite goal Caserta is intent on punishing.

Hildebrandt has minded the net for the Cardinals for the majority of both his seasons, accumulating 17 saves so far this year.

“I am looking right now at a business management major, but for now I am still in general studies,” said Hildebrandt, who lists wakeboarding, diving, video editing and working out as his main interests.

Both players have traits that make them ideal for their respective positions, says NIC coach Dan Hogan.

“Mike is very consistent in goal; he keeps the defense very composed with his play and attitude. Garga is more emotional and dynamic,” he said. “Personally, Mike is somewhat shy, while Garga is more outgoing.”

Hildebrandt said he and Caserta are planning to continue playing on the same soccer team through their college careers.

“We’ll look (first) at schools that we can attend together,” he said. “The biggest thing is that we are not too far from home (Idaho Falls); we want to stay close.”

Professional soccer careers are not out of the question, but neither is interested in playing in the Olympics (“Takes too much time,” says Caserta). They are understandably anxious to find out what soccer field they’ll be playing on next year, and at this point they just hope again they’ll be wearing the same jerseys.