At the age of six, Kenny Owens would tag along with his brother Pharis, two years his elder, in hopes of being included in the big kids’ soccer game. Unlike most big brothers, Pharis allowed his pesky little brother to play with his team.
“Thanks to [Pharis], I’m a decent player now because he was my competition,” Owens said of his older brother. “Most brothers wouldn’t like their little brother to play with them [because] they would get on their nerves . He always welcomed me to play.”
So began the soccer career of Kenny Owens.
Soft-spoken and humble, Georgetown’s Kenny Owens hid in the shadow of two of Georgetown’s greatest soccer players in team history for the first half of his career on the Hilltop. Two years ago, as a freshman, Owens watched as midfielder Eric Kvello collected 41 points en route to becoming Georgetown’s first-ever All-American selection. Last season, during Owens’ sophomore season, the spotlight focused on two-time Regional All-American goalieTyler Purtill, whose 21.9 career shutouts set a team record that may never be broken.
With the absence of these two Georgetown soccer legends, the Hoyas are searching for a hero to fill the void, and they may very well have found one in Owens.
In seven games this season, Owens has led the Hoyas to a 4-2-1 record, accounting for half of the team’s 10 goals this season. Including his five goals this season, Owens has 15 career tallies and already ranks 15th on Georgetown’s all-time scoring list, with 39 points just over halfway through his career on the Hilltop.
Ask Owens if he feels like a hero, though, and you’re sure to get an adamant denial surrounded by an air of humility.
“I’m a forward and my job is to score goals,” Owens says. “If I don’t score goals, I’m not doing my job . It’s just something I’m supposed to do.”
Hero or not, at the very least, Owens has done his job this season, helping the Hoyas go 3-1 in four consecutive games earlier this month against American, Rutgers, William & Mary and Old Dominion. His two-goal performance against American in the finals of the D.C. Challenge, which included a penalty kick goal after drawing the penalty himself, proved to be the difference in the Hoyas 2-1 championship win. His game-winning goal against the Eagles was the fifth of his career, with two coming in each of his first two seasons.
“It’s fair to say Kenny has a lot of talent and a lot of athletic ability, and that’s a good combination to have,” Owens’ coach Keith Tabatznik said of his star forward. “He’s a very difficult player for opposing players to defend.”
The relationship between Owens and Tabatznik predated Owens’ decision to enroll at Georgetown and turned out to be the deciding factor in his choice to become a Hoya. While in high school, Owens played defense for the Maryland Olympic Developmental Program team, coached by Tabatznik, while they toured Wales and England.
“I knew I wanted to stay home and go to a competitive program,” said Owens, who went to Wilson High School in D.C. “It came down to the coach. I have a lot of respect for Keith.”
Halfway through his career as a Hoya, Owens has been a part of many memorable moments and has received a number of accolades. He cites the Hoyas’ upset performances in the Big East Tournament in each of the last two seasons as his most memorable moments in a Hoya uniform. Last season, the Hoyas defeated long-time rival St. John’s, 1-0 in overtime during the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on a goal by current junior Andy Sole off an assist from Owens. Two years ago, the Hoyas upset No. 1-seeded Connecticut en route to their second-ever Big East Championship appearance.
“Those [Big East] championships have been great,” Owens said. “Being the underdog and beating St. John’s last year and beating Connecticut the year before that . were amazing.”
In 1998, Owens was voted Rookie of the Year for the Hoyas and was selected to the Big East’s All-Rookie team. Last season, Owens was voted Offensive Player of the Year for the Hoyas. Both seasons, Owens has been named to the South Atlantic Region Third Team.
According to Owens, however, his greatest moments as a soccer player came neither as a Hoya nor a member of the Maryland ODP team, but rather as a member of the United States Under-20 National team, for which he also played as a defender.
“When you’re out there and you know you’re representing your country [and] you hear the national anthem playing . it was probably the best moment [as a soccer player].”
Owens hopes, though, that the greatest moment of his career has yet to come, but he thinks it will come soon. He believes the Hoyas can win the Big East regular season and tournament, qualify for the NCAA tournament and do very well.
“This is our year to do something, to make history for Georgetown soccer.”
Related Links
Men’s Soccer Schedule
Men’s Soccer Roster
