TAMPA, Fla. — There’s no place like home. And for Jake LaCava, there’s no place like the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“From the minute I stepped in last year, the guys got around me, the staff got around me, they just do such a good job of making players like me feel at home here and despite me being on loan, it didn’t feel like that one moment last year and again it didn’t feel like that as well,” LaCava said. “It feels like I’m a Rowdie.”
LaCava was a major factor for the Rowdies last season, finishing as a finalist for the USL Championship’s Young Player of the Year award.
Last season, LaCava was on loan. During the offseason, he departed to MLS side Inter Miami. But when a chance came to get him back on loan, the Rowdies quickly responded.
“They called me. I was just really looking forward to continuing the success that we had as a team last season, and also building on what they were building this season,” LaCava said.
His teammates were thrilled to have him back in the mix.
“You just know what he’s going to bring, that energy, that intensity and those runs in behind, so we’re really happy to have him back,” said captain Aaron Guillen.
LaCava netted 12 goals and 5 assists last season, helping the Rowdies finish as the highest-scoring club in the USL championship regular season.
“You know what he’s going to give you at practice, he’s going to give you 100 percent, he’s a great player going one-on-one, his speed is one of the best qualities he has, so that’s what we need on this team to go forward and I think he does great at it,” Guillen said.
He wasted no time getting back into the fold, recording a goal in just his second game back in Tampa Bay. “It’s like he didn’t leave, he came in and scored that goal against Loudon and then he’s just part of the family, and it’s great to have him back,” Guillen said.
LaCava is ready to make an even bigger impact in the green and gold.
“Just adding more numbers to my game, goals, assists and I think that’s coming along pretty nicely,” LaCava said. “I’m feeling very sharp in training and I’ve gelled really nicely with the guys coming in and it’s been really good.”
With the departure of Head Coach Neil Collins to Barnsley FC last week, LaCava said this group is determined to carry on the winning culture.
“As a group, we’re feeling very motivated, and we had a big week last week, and a very emotional week for us, but I think with the quality we have and the quality that Neil went out and brought here, and the culture he instilled in this club, I think we’re all really looking forward to continuing on his legacy and continuing on what he started here,” he said. “And showing that we’re all here for a reason.”
