BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Justin Madrid won't just be making a homecoming of sorts on Saturday when his Campbell University Fighting Camels travel to William & Mary for a 7:00 p.m. kick-off at Albert-Daly Field.

He'll do it wearing the captain's armband for the defending Atlantic Sun Conference men's soccer champions.

The red-shirt junior midfielder from Yorktown, Va., and Christchurch School has not received all-conference honors in his first two years. He has only scored twice in 45 career collegiate games. However, Madrid was paid the ultimate compliment on the soccer field when his teammates and coaches selected him as team captain for the 2008 season.

"The captain's armband seems to have less and less meaning now-a-days (just like the number 10), but not in my mind," said seventh-year head coach Doug Hess. "It is the guy that connects the team to the coaching staff, sees both sides of it – player and coach – and has the ability to lead the team in battle.

"Justin is all of these things and more. He has the respect of each player in our locker room and every member of our coaching staff. While there will be many leaders within our team, Justin will be the lone captain this fall and one that we will look to for guidance both on the field and off," said Hess.

Only once in Madrid's three seasons (including the 2006 campaign when he missed all but four games due to injury) have the Fighting Camels averaged more than two goals scored per game. But an opportunistic attack, coupled with a tight defense has produced a 37-20-6 overall record during that span, including a 16-4-4 mark in Atlantic Sun play.

The 6-foot junior has played a vital role from his defensive midfielder position during that span. In both seasons when he has been healthy enough to play (2005, 2007), the Camels have reached their league title match, while advancing to the NCAA College Cup last fall.

"Knowing that my coaches and peers have the respect for me and look for me as someone who can lead us is a great feeling," said Madrid. "But it doesn't take just me to lead, it takes all of us."

Campbell has been picked on top of the A-Sun pre-season poll in each of Madrid's last three years in the program and is familiar with playing the favored team's role throughout his collegiate career.

"It's not always easy to have a target on your back," said Madrid. "We're going to get the best effort from every team we play in the league. So it's going to take a great effort on our part every time to win."

As a freshman, Madrid appeared in 19 of 20 games with eight starts for CU's 2005 A-Sun regular season champion and tournament runner-up squad. One year later, he started each of the first four games before being sidelined with a tendon tear in his ankle that eventually required surgery.

Madrid regained a year of eligibility from the NCAA due to his medical hardship, but his teammates were only able to finish with a 10-7-2 overall mark (4-1-2 in the A-Sun) while being eliminated in the conference tournament semifinal round.

Last season, while still recapturing his fitness level, he played in all 22 matches with 18 starts for a club that surrendered just 1.18 goals per outing. The 2007 Camels went 13-6-3 (5-2-2 in the league) and became the first A-Sun team to win three games (in four days) to capture the conference's automatic NCAA berth.

While Madrid's influence may not be seen on the stat sheet, he definitely plays a large factor in the team's success.

"Justin is often the player that gets over-looked in my mind on this team when it comes to individual recognition and awards, but he is never left out when it comes to putting together the team," said Hess. "He is a selfless player and stalwart in our line-up when he is healthy. His battle back into shape and playing form is a testament to who he is as a person. Justin had an extremely tough go with his ankle for a full year. However, thoughts of quitting never entered his mind. He is a picture of discipline and commitment to both me and this team."

Madrid realizes that his duties within the team don't necessarily rely on producing offense.

"I'm in there to link the midfield and back line and to hold our shape defensively," said the trust management major. "I have to be disciplined in what I do, not get caught too far forward and let our goal scorers be goal scorers."

Over the summer, Madrid further regained his fitness while appearing in 11 games with the Williamsburg Legacy of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development (U-23) League.

"The spring season at Campbell really helped me get my touch back," said Madrid, who admitted to not being fully recovered during the 2007 campaign. "Playing in the PDL this summer helped me maintain my touch and fitness."

His teammates echo Coach Hess' feelings about their captain.

"Justin brings maturity to our team and is an overall leader in just about every aspect you could think of. With soccer, as a friend, off the field, he's going to be there any time you need him," said senior goalkeeper Aaron Johnson."