Sophomore Kai Yamamoto is deeply dedicated to his sport. The finance major and team goalkeeper was named Tartan Athlete of the Week on Oct. 27 for his outstanding performance in games against teams from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago. Earlier in the week, on Oct. 22, he earned the title of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week for his role in the Tartan’s victory against the Emory University Eagles. “Five of Yamamoto’s saves also came against the leading shot taker in the UAA in Ryan Winkler, who has seven goals for the season but was denied by Yamamoto, including on back-to-back shots in the 36th minute and a leaping push save in the 58th minute on a shot headed for the top left corner,” reads the award description.
Yamamoto talked to the Tartan about the Emory win, saying “[it] was a pretty big milestone for myself. It was my first clean sheet in the conference … There were two red cards in that game, it was a really passionate game.” He expressed that he felt the fighting support of the whole team during the game, and that it was meaningful to have such a big win on the home field.
After having a knee injury for the first four weeks of the season, Yamamoto was excited to just get back on his feet. “I was really eager to get back into it, and then … I was able to play the first game when I came back, but … I made a pretty bad mistake that game,” he shared. Because the game ended 1-1, Yamamoto felt responsible for having let in the goal that cost the team the win.
“When a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it normally leads to you conceding the goal,” he said, “you’re the last line of defense.” He talked about how different the keeping position is from other roles on the field. The added pressure of having less support behind you than you might in another position is something that Yamamoto has thought about and experienced throughout his soccer career. But having made his share of mistakes, he says he’s learned that confidence is key: “When I’m ready, when I want to face more shots, that’s when I do better. Even within practice, if you concede a goal and make a mistake, you just move on.” He talked about the importance of taking ownership and supporting other goalkeepers through their mistakes.
Keeping has its perks too, according to Yamamoto. “You definitely stand out … I think a lot of people are attracted to soccer because they want to score goals … but for myself, whenever you save a shot that everyone thinks is gonna go in, and the crowd’s like ‘woah, how’d he get there?’, I think that’s a really nice feeling that you can only get if you’re the goalkeeper.” He appreciates the extra athleticism that comes with jumping and diving to make saves, as well as the extra practice time he gets in his unique role.
Kai Yamamoto make a save for the Tartans against Emory University. Courtesy of CMU Athletics.
Yamamoto knew he wanted to be a keeper all along. He started playing soccer as a kindergartener in a Japanese international school in Malaysia. “In Japan, the two biggest sports are soccer and baseball,” he said, and in many countries outside of the U.S., soccer is especially popular. As he moved to Japan and then Singapore, he remained steeped in a culture of soccer. He described soccer in Japan as being highly disciplined, which forced him to hone his skills. In Singapore he played for a traveling club team, which allowed him to compete all over Europe, including in Italy, Germany, and Serbia. There, he found himself amongst other highly talented players, including some who now play professionally.
When the COVID-19 pandemic limited his ability to play soccer with others, Yamamoto credits his coach for giving him the opportunity to keep playing. “He was also a professional player, so he invited me to train with their team,” he said, expressing his gratitude for that. He started to practice with their youth team, but eventually he became good enough to work with the professional team – Albirex Niigata Singapore F.C. He was only 15 or 16 at the time.
Despite his evident success abroad, Yamamoto found the recruitment process for U.S. colleges to be challenging. “All the kids here are playing in the showcases, but I couldn’t fly out … I had one summer to prove myself,” he said of his opportunity to visit the U.S. and play soccer for university recruiters. Though he received offers from D1 schools, he found Carnegie Mellon to be the most attractive option because of the academic rigor and beautiful campus. So far, being part of the Tartan team has been really enjoyable for him and has met his expectations for academic and athletic balance.
“The coaches make sure that you’re prioritizing your academics … they support you,” he said. He described the team environment as hardworking, and credited upperclassmen players with helping to guide him in his first year at Carnegie Mellon. “It really motivates you to be part of a team that’s highly motivated,” he said, citing that his teammate William Berger started the Tepper Undergraduate Real Estate Club, which he is a part of. Yamamoto is also a member of the 180 Degrees Consulting club, the Tartan Student Fund — where he serves as Associate Portfolio Manager — the Research and Asset Management Academy, and the Special Olympics Committee. “I think sports is a really good way to connect people … I joined the Special Olympics Committee because I thought it was a way to give back through sports,” he said, “I think everyone should be a part of it.” He encourages students to get involved as volunteers, and hopes that it can grow as an event at Carnegie Mellon.
As a sophomore, Yamamoto is busy, but he still enjoys the opportunity to support new first-year players. For those in Tepper, he has tried to make connections between organizations and opportunities to help freshmen gain experience they’ll need to enter the professional world. “It’s really nice to be able to hang out with them as teammates, as friends, but also to give them advice … [it’s a] full circle moment.” He has also enjoyed continuing connections with recently graduated players and alumni, who often go watch their games and offer career support.
Though Yamamoto is not yet halfway through his soccer career at Carnegie Mellon, his achievements on and off of the field make him one to watch. The Tartans will play their final games of the season on Nov. 3 and Nov. 9. Congratulations and good luck Kai!