D'Arcy Motors Athlete of the Week: Alban Hoti, Plano senior, soccer

Why he was selected:

Alban Hoti scored two goals against Indian Creek on Sept. 30, and in the process set Plano's new single-season scoring record.

Hoti's two goals give him 25 for the season, breaking the record of 24 set by Ivan Alanis last season. Hoti, a senior moved from midfielder to forward this season, also has eight assists. Record sports editor Joshua Welge spoke to Hoti about the record, about his love for soccer and his unique family background. Here is an edited version of the transcript.

Welge: What's the record mean to you?

Hoti: Honestly, I wasn't really paying attention to it most of the season. I didn't even know we had a record. I was more focused on the wins. When I got up to 20, though, I was wondering. I looked it up, and it was there. I told my friends I was so close, that I wanted to get it. I'm glad it happened.

Welge: Are you surprised you got it?

Hoti: Yes, everybody was expecting me to be the top assist guy this season and Eric Nunez to score. It didn't really work out that way.

Welge: How did you score the record goal?

Hoti: I was on the top of the 18-yard line, and I dribbled through a couple guys, and I just found an opening. It was kind of a weak shot, but in the right position. People couldn't reach it.

Welge: You're the youngest of five siblings [three sisters and one brother]. How big is soccer in your household?

Hoti: It's really big in my family. Me and my brother, we wake up almost every Saturday and Sunday and watch soccer on TV. We watched the World Cup qualifier. We watch all the games if we can. We've played soccer our entire lives, my mom and dad too. It's the biggest sport in our family.

Welge: I've heard that your family is from Albania. Were you born there?

Hoti: I was actually the only one of my siblings that was not. When my mom came over here she was pregnant with me. We came over as war refugees. Three months later I was born. It's pretty crazy.

Welge: Do you speak your family's native language?

Hoti: We all speak the language. In our household we speak Albanian, in school we speak English. I've learned both. I love where I am from, and I love my background. I go [back to Albania] every two years. They call me "the American" there.

Welge: I hear you aspire to be an architect. Why?

Hoti: We had this class in school, architectural drafting, and it came easy to me. It was fun, my favorite class. When you like something that much you don't want to stop.