When Chioma Okafor arrived at the Berkshire School from her home country of Malawi, she said she saw opportunities for herself in America that were not fathomable to most young players growing up in the western African country nearly 8,000 miles away. She said she knew nothing would be handed to … [Read more...]
The Reale Deal: Why Massachusetts native Lilly Reale keeps getting better at UCLA
Lilly Reale entered her senior year at UCLA this fall having already accomplished almost everything a college soccer star could hope for both individually and as a team player. The Hingham (Mass.) native won a national championship with the Bruins as a sophomore during the same year she earned the … [Read more...]
D1 Women: How Yale has satisfied Ellie Rappole’s many ambitions
For a player with the incredible soccer credentials that Ellie Rappole (Winchester, Mass.) earned during her 10 years playing with the New England Football Club (NEFC), she said she actually had a very short list of colleges she considered when it was time to contemplate the next chapter of her … [Read more...]
D1 Men: Why Bryant is maintaining lofty goals after historic 2023 success
When Ruben Resendes took over a three-win Bryant University men’s soccer team in December of 2022, one of his challenges to those within the program was to think big. Coming off a Division 2 national championship season at Franklin Pierce, the Fall River (Mass.) native and former All-American at … [Read more...]
D1 Men: Why Cole Dewhurst was prepared to flourish at Providence
Cole Dewhurst (Lancaster, Mass.) arrived at Providence College almost four years ago, perhaps as prepared as any player could be to make an impact at the next level. Growing up in a soccer household and learning the game from his father, Jason, who is the director of the FC Stars club program, and … [Read more...]
D1 Women: Why a return to Maine was the right move for Kristina Kelly
When Kristina Kelly (Lincolnville, Maine) decided to leave the state of Maine to play collegiately, she said she did so because -- for all of her accomplishments on the pitch as a three-time All-American and United Soccer Coaches National High School Player of the Year at Camden Hills Regional -- … [Read more...]
