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Thanks Glastonbury Dad. Next copy the article because nobody has a subscription. -
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HIGH SCHOOL
Watch list: 20 Connecticut boys high school players to track
By Jonathan SigalMay 12, 2020
Connecticut Patrick Sullivan Glastonbury
Glastonbury's Patrick Sullivan has long been one of Connecticut high school soccer's top defenders. (Betty Davis)
Connecticut high school soccer has a long, storied history that’s helped to cultivate some of the region’s best players.
The likes of Glastonbury, Daniel Hand and Hall have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, with the CIAC’s top-end players carrying into the club space for AJAX Premier, Connecticut FC, FSA, Shoreline and more.
Mindful of those dynamics, and with the soccer world on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve highlighted 20 players from the CIAC who have promising futures. They’ve all impressed locally, and project as solid contributors at the collegiate level.
Sorted in alphabetical order, here’s our breakdown of these up-and-comers. Some are already Class of 2021 commits, with our full database found here.
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Max Baer – Joel Barlow | Jr. | M | Redding, Conn. – Baer, a box-to-box center mid, captained Joel Barlow last fall and had eight goals and seven assists through 22 games. They advanced to the Class L quarterfinals, with Baer also leaving his mark on Connecticut FC’s U-19 ECNL team. He’s predominantly right-footed and eagerly tracks back to start counter-attacks.
Surya Balaji – Staples | Jr. | D | Westport, Conn. – Balaji is a center back with great instincts in the challenge, aerially and on through balls. He’s a two-year captain for Staples, a Class LL quarterfinalist in 2019. He’s not the biggest player, but makes up for that with toughness and grit.
Nathan Bennett – Wilton | Jr. | F | Wilton, Conn. – Bennett had played in the Development Academy with FC Westchester, but joined Wilton last year as the Warriors made the Class L championship game. He’s a dynamic winger/forward who’s great when presented with 1-on-1 situations.
David Coello surveys the field for Farmington. (Courtesy photo)
David Coello – Farmington | Jr. | F/M | Farmington, Conn. – Farmington is traditionally a solid CIAC program, one that made the Class LL semifinals last year. Hopes of going one step further in 2020 will be led by Coello, an attacking player with great vision who had 11 goals and seven assists as a junior. Coello formerly played for Oakwood DA, but now is with FSA in the ECNL.
Calum Crawford – Fairfield Ludlowe | Jr. | M | Fairfield, Conn. – Crawford placed on the All-FCIAC First Team last year, and is regarded as one of the CIAC’s top attacking midfielders. Fairfield Ludlowe got bounced in the Class LL first round in 2019, but that shouldn’t underscore Crawford’s quality.
Carrigan Cullinan – Trumbull | Jr. | D | Trumbull, Conn. – Cullinan plays for Connecticut FC in the ECNL and was a First Team All-FCIAC selection in 2019 as Trumbull made the Class LL semifinals. Already a two-year starter at center back, Cullinan captained the Eagles as they won their third FCIAC championship in four years. Cullinan can also play defensive midfielder in a pinch.
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Nathan DiLoreto – Bristol Eastern | Jr. | GK | Bristol, Conn. – Bristol Eastern got upset in the Class L quarterfinals last year by Guilford, though DiLoreto is still a Class of 2021 goalkeeper with high potential. DiLoreto is growing into his body and has great reaction instincts. He also plays for FSA in the ECNL.
Timothy Donovan – Litchfield | Jr. | F | Litchfield, Conn. – Donovan, a Class of 2021 commit to Colgate, earned United Soccer Coaches All-American honors last December. He holds the Litchfield record for goals (78) and has turned plenty of heads with FSA in the ECNL. The No. 9 also weighed prep school options, but is determined to chase a Class S title after Litchfield fell in the second round last year.
Caden Gallagher – Farmington | Soph. | D/M | Farmington, Conn. – Gallagher represented FSA this past March at the ECNL Conference SuperCup event, having cemented his place as one of the region’s top U-16 players in that league. Capable of playing center back or out wide, that versatility only boosts his college soccer prospects. Gallagher comes from a soccer family, too, with his sister (Kyla) an incoming freshman at Providence College.
Timothy Donovan is regarded as one of the region’s top Class of 2021 forwards. (Courtesy photo)
Joao Pedro Lima – Greenwich | Soph. | M/F | Greenwich, Conn. – Lima has family roots in Brazil, and is an exciting Class of 2022 prospect. He’s fantastic on the dribble, and was a key part of Greenwich’s Class LL championship game appearance last year. Capable of playing out wide, Lima is arguably best in the No. 10 role.
Zach Gardner – Glastonbury | Jr. | D/M | Glastonbury, Conn. – Gardner has been one of Glastonbury’s most consistent players, and will have a bigger role next fall now that Alec Hughes heads to UMass. A two-way midfielder who can slot into several roles, Gardner oozes experience and brings a calm presence. He’ll have plenty of motivation, too, after Glastonbury got upset by Staples in the Class LL second round last year.
Patrick Gryczewski – Plainville | Jr. | F | Plainville, Conn. – Gryczewski powered Plainville to the Class M semifinals last year, having scored 19 goals and dishing out five assists. He’s a left-footed striker with pace and size, one who can finish in a variety of ways. Gryczewski features for AJAX Premier on the club scene.
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Evan Jones – Hall | Jr. | F | West Hartford, Conn. – Jones is a Class of 2021 commit to Holy Cross, a decision that comes on the heels of a Class LL state championship. He’s a No. 9 who can also play out wide, and gets his shot off quickly. On the club circuit, Jones plays for FSA’s U-19 ECNL team.
Giuseppe Mongelluzzo – Holy Cross | Jr. | M | Waterbury, Conn. – Mongelluzzo is an All-State midfielder who powered Holy Cross’ run to the Class S championship game last year, where they fell to Old Saybrook in double overtime. A creative player with industry, Mongelluzzo has a cultured right foot. He also plays for Connecticut FC in the ECNL.
Sam Montalto – Stonington | Soph. | F | Stonington, Conn. – Montalto scored a stunning 33 goals last year to go alongside three assists, leading Stonington to a Class M state championship win over Ellington. He’s best when in open space or dribbling at defenders, and then can finish with either foot. He features for Southeast SC in the club space.
Daniel Hall striker Scott Testori celebrates a goal. (Courtesy photo)
Emmanuel Ofori Jr. – East Hartford | Jr. | F | East Hartford, Conn. – Ofori is regarded as one of the CIAC’s top Class of 2021 forwards. He’s predominantly left-footed, and had 10 goals and 14 assists as a junior. That was enough to earn the Connecticut FC standout United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors last December.
Jude Sargent – Conard | Jr. | D | West Hartford, Conn. – Sargent is a solid Class of 2021 center back, one who also plays for FSA in the ECNL. Strong in the air, he’s reliable when passing out of the back and in 1-on-1 situations. He’d make for a great Division III player one day.
Drew Seguro – Hall | Jr. | M | West Hartford, Conn. – Seguro had 19 goals and 17 assists as a junior, helping Hall win a Class LL state championship after making the final in 2018. An attacking midfielder, Seguro floats wide and finds great pockets centrally to make teams pay. In the Class of 2021, Seguro is an exciting college soccer prospect.
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Patrick Sullivan – Glastonbury | Jr. | D | Glastonbury, Conn. – Sullivan is the younger brother of Andrew Sullivan, a Quinnipiac freshman and the 2018 Hartford Courant Player of the Year, so talent runs in the family. Also a Connecticut FC ECNL standout, Sullivan is one of the region’s top Class of 2021 defenders. He’s part of a Glastonbury program that won four outright Class LL titles from 2015-18.
Scott Testori – Daniel Hand | Jr. | M/F | Madison, Conn. – This story wouldn’t be complete without Testori, an All-American forward who has a school-record 58 career goals. Last year, Testori had 24 goals and 16 assists as Daniel Hand won its fourth straight Class L state championship. Testori can finish with both feet and offers solid hold-up play to let others join the attack.
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Is there a list of the top 10 CT boys playing in the DA?Comment
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Here's hoping they get to play. Criticize HS soccer all you want but it matters to these kids and they've been looking forward to senior year.Comment
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honest question - how are lists like this put together?Comment
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Pretty lazy job, mostly just players from top teams that get more love from Local online Media outlets. Not saying the players on this list aren’t deserving, but they’re almost all from the more “popular” teams. Plenty of great players on lesser known teams as well.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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The earlier poster is correct. Someone from NESJ calls a few High School coaches, maybe gets the list of coaches who vote in CT High School Standings, they always list who votes at the end of pools. That list of coaches is comprised mostly of coaches who have been around a very long time or by coaches who have had recent state success. They probably didn't even call any small class coaches of S, M or even Prep Schools.
So there is only 1 goalkeeper in the entire state to "watch"?
It is a joke, take it for what it is
The person who wrote this did not see any CT High School soccer games let alone watch any of these players play.
Any Dad Coaches on this list?Comment
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Yes, plenty of great players in CT that are not on that list. Nice to be recognized but it really doesn't matter. Its also very obvious who they are talking to coach wise n these clubs.Comment
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Zeke Seguro is the coach at Hall. I’m sure his dad had nothing to do with his son making the list...not. WAY overrated and bad attitude to bootOriginally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Diito on the zeke comment....Comment
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