Levonte Johnson’s Unique Path to Syracuse

By: Andrew Selover | @AndrewSelover 
CitrusTV Men’s Soccer Beat Reporter 

Tonight, Syracuse Men Soccer honors its twelve seniors. For forward Levonte Johnson, the journey to the 315 was a little bit different than the rest. The Canadian is playing at his fourth school in as many years, and the decision to transfer to SU from Seattle this season was all about being closer to his family in Ontario.  

“Just to be closer to home,” said Johnson on why he made the move to SU. “My friends can come watch me. A four-hour, five-hour flight to Seattle is not the same as five hour, four hour drive [to Syracuse]. That was a major reason in me coming in. [My parents’] support has been amazing to be honest. From when I was about eight, nine, they’ve been to all my games, supporting me, driving me an hour away for practice every day. I remember at one time when I was playing, I was training seven days a week and my dad is driving me there at 6:00 a.m., waking up at 5:00 a.m. for it. They’ve been very helpful and helped a lot in my development as a player.” 

The Syracuse program has felt like a home for Johnson. After all, that’s what head coach Ian McIntyre’s program is based around. 

“We spend a lot of time during recruiting to recruit the right caliber of not just talent but character. That’s a big part of it. It’s a privilege to come and be part of our program, our family, so that’s an important part of attracting guys that are going to fit in on the soccer field but also off the field as well,” said McIntyre.  

“I asked guys like Tajon Buchanan and Ryan Raposo. They came through this program, and I grew up playing against them. It was their word that encouraged me to come here.  There’s a lot of Canadian players, especially guys from the GTA area, that come to this program. There’s a lot of other sports that have a lot of Canadian players too. It really feels like I’m just at home.”  

Johnson, along with his senior teammates, are set to be honored ahead of tonight’s regular season finale against Boston College. With a win over the Eagles and a Virginia loss at UNC, the forward can help deliver Syracuse its first ever ACC regular season title.