Montville Soccer Team Sending 12 Off To College

During a soccer game, teams send 11 players to the field. This year, Montville High School sent a field’s worth—and more—on to higher education.

Colin Delaney, head men’s soccer coach at the school, said all of the Class of 2013 members of the team will go on to college. Half of them have committed to joining soccer teams there.

“We have 12 graduating seniors in the soccer program this year, by far the largest senior class in program history,” said Delaney.

Two of the seniors national letters of intent to play on scholarships in NCAA Division I soccer programs. Three committed to NCAA Division III programs, and one committed to a NAIA Division II program.

The Division I players are Jeff Tryon, who will play at the University of Hartford, and Connor Leeman, who will go to Holy Cross. Both earned a number of honors during their time with the Indians. Tyron made All-American and was a two-time All-ECC, All-State, and All-New England player. Leeman was a three-time All-ECC and All-State player.

The graduates going on to Division III programs are Zack Foley, Dan Pierce, Jacob Sorensen, and Matt Staehle. Foley is attending Emmanuel College, Pierce is attending Lyndon State College, Sorenson is going to the Marion Military Insitute and United States Coast Guard Academy, and Staehle is going to Western Connecticut State University.

Each of these players also won a varsity letter and distinction during their time on the team, with Foley, Sorenson, and Staehle earning All-ECC honors. Sorenson was also awarded the NSCAA High School Senior Excellence Award.

Other team members attending college are:

• Andrew Fratoni, University of Connecticut
• Jack Greenwood, University of Connecticut – Avery Point
• Paul Hanrahan, University of Connecticut
• Conner Lewis, Eastern Connecticut State University
• McKenzie Mahn, Johnson & Wales University
• Nicholas Namin, Bryant University

Each of these team members won a varsity letter. Hanrahan was a recipient of the ECC Sportsmanship Award.

Montville’s boys’ soccer team had a 15-1 record in 2012 and was the third-ranked team in the Class M division of the CIAC Tournament. The Indians made it to the semifinals before a 1-0 loss to Suffield, which won the tournament in the final game against Bacon Academy.