Peter Simonini became a starter in his first season with the Tea Men, who moved to Jacksonville from 1981-83. Simonini helped the Tea Men win the ASL title and was named league MVP in 1983. [Read more…] about Dec. 10, 1979 – New England Tea Men select Peter Simonini in 1st round of NASL draft
From The Boston Globe: “Osborne, Harvard’s sturdy left tackle in the game with Yale a week ago, was the pivot around which swung the impregnable formation of the Crimson forward line in the intercollegiate championship soccer match with Columbia … Osborne proved himself a versatile football player, seeming quite as much at home on the soccer gridiron as in the American college game.” [Read more…] about Dec. 1, 1906 – Columbia 0:1 Harvard at Cosmopolitan Park, Newark
Jack Dueker scored three goals for the Bob Guelker-coached Saint Louis Billikens in the first NCAA-sanctioned soccer championship final, the game played in a strong downpour. [Read more…] about Nov. 28, 1959 – First NCAA Final (St. Louis 5:2 Bridgeport) at Memorial Stadium, Storrs, Conn. (Att.: 400)
Harvard went on a strong run from 1969-71, advancing to two NCAA semifinal games. Goalkeeper Shep Messing, who had played at Nassau Community College and NYU, joined the Crimson from 1970-71. Messing played for the U.S. in the 1972 Olympic Games and performed for the Boston Minutemen in 1975 and ’76, in between stints with the New York Cosmos. [Read more…] about Nov. 24, 1969 – Harvard 1:0 (AET) Hartwick, NCAA Regional Championship (Att.: 4,000)
John Kerry scored three goals, Jack Griswold two and captain Joe Upton one in Jack Marshall’s final game as Bulldog coach. Kerry scored his first goal in the 16th minute. [Read more…] about Nov. 19, 1965 – Yale 6:3 Harvard. John Kerry hat trick for Yale
Tony Crescitelli set a NCAA Division 3 record with 123 career goals in 62 games for the North Adams State (MCLA) Mohawks from 1975-78. Crescitelli (b. Jan. 11, 1957 in Altavilla Irpina, Italy) grew up on Long Island and went on to play once for the U.S. national team in 1983. [Read more…] about Nov. 14, 2010 – Tony Crescitelli inducted in New England Soccer Hall of Fame
Former Manchester City center forward William “Billy” Gillespie (b. Oct. 2, 1873 in Strathclyde, Scotland) scored for Lynn City. Gillespie, described as “one of the greatest center forwards England has had in years,” had combined with Billy Meredith, winning the 1904 FA Cup with the Citizens. Manchester City was later disciplined for paying players above the maximum wage; Gillespie refused to pay a fine, instead moving to the U.S., settling in Lynn and later coaching Harvard’s soccer team. [Read more…] about Nov. 6, 1909 – Boston Rovers 3:2 Lynn City at Franklin Park
One week after this American Soccer League exhibition match, the first NFL night game was played at Kinsley Park, which was torn down in 1933. [Read more…] about Oct. 31, 1929 – Providence Gold Bugs 2:1 Boston Wonder Workers, exhibition night game at Kinsley Park
Estacio (Stacy) DeCastro set a collegiate record in a game against Unity and totaled 62 goals in the 1973 season and 166 career goals for the Eagles. Husson reached the NAIA New England final (2-0 loss to Eastern Connecticut State) in 1973 and compiled a 53W-8L-1D record in DeCastro’s four seasons.
Oct. 29, 1973 – Husson College 29:0 Unity [Read more…] about Oct. 29, 1973 – Husson College’s Stacy DeCastro scores 13 goals
Howard “Howie” Mendel “flashy outside left forward and their leading goal scorer [converted] a flag shot that fooled Lee and landed in the net in the [13th minute].” [Read more…] about Oct. 26, 1938 – Olimpico at Harvard