When Reno 1868 FC decided to cease operations following the 2020 USL Championship season, it jolted defender Thomas Janjigian. "It’s something that surprised me in the moment because we were a very solid team, and we were doing well," said Janjigian, who played four seasons in northern Nevada, … [Read more...]
Pandemic forced Stonehill standout Emma Slade to refocus in new ways
Editor’s note: This story appears in the July-August issue of New England Soccer Journal. The Northeast-10 Conference decided, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that it would cancel the fall 2020 sports season and not play a shortened spring season, which led to a surreal moment for Emma Slade. The … [Read more...]
Ronan Fitzpatrick follows in footsteps of older brothers as Bentley captain
When Ronan Fitzpatrick (Coventry, Conn.), a senior midfielder for the Bentley University men’s soccer team, found out that teammates voted him one of the team’s two captains ahead of the fall 2021 season, his thoughts turned to his two older brothers, Tom and Conor. Tom also skippered Bentley, … [Read more...]
Alex Nagy relishing his role as All-American midfielder for Vermont
Midfielder Alex Nagy (Bow, N.H.) is ready to shoulder an immense burden for the University of Vermont men’s soccer team in the 2021 season. "Not to embarrass him, but Alex’s teammates and his coaches, we all know he’s special," said Catamounts coach Rob Dow. "I think it’s important here that now … [Read more...]
Legowski a building block for upward-trending Northeastern
Whenever Northeastern University women’s soccer coach Ashley Phillips looks at junior midfielder Alexis Legowski (South Hadley, Mass.), she sees a humble and hardworking player who radiates “coachability.” But Phillips also notices something else. "I don’t think she sees a ceiling," Phillips said of … [Read more...]
Hartford Athletic captain Danny Barrera grows into leadership role
HARTFORD, Conn. — It’s a searingly hot June evening at Dillon Stadium, and Danny Barrera is conducting a soccer symphony for Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship. Each one of the midfielder’s movements builds toward a crescendo, which culminates in a virtuoso performance against New York Red … [Read more...]
What to expect from Harry Watling and Hartford Athletic in 2021
In the abstract, when first-year Hartford Athletic head coach Harry Watling talks about formations and tactics, it sounds like he's describing economic theory. Think of it as the invisible hand of soccer strategy. Players with the freedom to take the ball in “uncomfortable areas,” while also … [Read more...]
What Alfonso Vazquez has learned during Hartford Athletic’s 2020 season
Editor’s note: This story appears in our Fall 2020 magazine. You can subscribe to the print edition, or digital, here. HARTFORD, Conn. — When the USL Championship season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic back in March, it was an interesting time in the nascent career of Alfonso Vazquez. One … [Read more...]
Dillon Stadium rebuild connects Hartford Athletic, Connecticut soccer fans
Editor’s note: This story appears in our Summer 2020 magazine. You can subscribe to the print edition, or digital, here. Ryan Madden made his way to Connecticut for Hartford Athletic’s first match at revitalized Dillon Stadium last July. Madden, the United Soccer League’s vice president of … [Read more...]
What Radhi Jaidi will bring as Hartford Athletic head coach
Editor’s note: This story appears in our Spring 2020 magazine. You can subscribe to the print edition, or digital, here. The measure of Radhi Jaidi doesn’t start with his physical stature, even though at 6-foot-4, he has a commanding presence and looks every bit the “man mountain” that his former … [Read more...]
Alfonso Vazquez: How his path could impact Connecticut soccer
FARMINGTON, Conn. — When Hartford Athletic signed 17-year-old Alfonso Vazquez (Windham, Conn.) to a professional contract on Wednesday, the USL Championship team signaled its search for talent extends beyond normal channels. Normally, the second-year club would look at college soccer standouts, … [Read more...]
Hartford Athletic preseason laying foundation for Radhi Jaidi era
The 2020 Hartford Athletic preseason has gone surprisingly fast under new coach Radhi Jaidi, according to forward Mac Steeves (Needham, Mass.). That’s not an indictment of anything former coach Jimmy Nielsen did before the start of last season, Hartford’s debut in the USL Championship, only an … [Read more...]
