In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, host Matt Langone speaks with New England Soccer Journal high school soccer writer Patrick Donnelly about the upcoming high school soccer season. They discuss top teams and players to watch, challenges posed by the MLS Next factor, the impact of club soccer on high school participation, and share experiences covering high school sports. The episode also includes a fun segment called Extra Time, where the participants answer random soccer-related questions.

Topics

01:12 High School Soccer Insights

02:55 MLS Next Impact on High School Soccer

04:41 Early Season Highlights and Rankings

05:39 Challenges of Covering High School Sports

08:04 Players to Watch This Season

10:41 State Championship Atmosphere

12:16 Comparing High School and Prep School Sports

14:55 Pat's Background and Experience

16:04 Extra Time: Fun Questions

24:34 Conclusion and Sign Off

In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, host Matt Langone welcomes Seamans Media Managing Editor and Girls Prep Soccer writer Mike Zhe. They discuss the upcoming NEPSAC 2024 prep soccer season, focusing on top teams and players in both girls and boys prep soccer. Key highlights include in-depth prospects for perennial powerhouses like Buckingham, Brown, and Nichols (BB&N) on the girls' side and Milton Academy on the boys' side, along with insights into other competitive teams like Taft, Northfield Mount Hermon, and Worcester Academy. The episode also features an engaging ‘extra time’ segment with creative and insightful soccer-related questions.

Topics

01:06 Previewing the Girls Prep Soccer Season

01:58 Top Teams to Watch in Girls Prep Soccer

05:12 Founders League Powerhouses

09:15 Class B Contenders: Pingree and Dexter Southfield

11:02 ISL Teams to Watch: Thayer Academy and Nobles

13:38 Teams Outside the Top 10 to Watch

16:08 Transition to Boys Prep Soccer

16:28 Milton Academy: The Team to Beat

17:57 Challengers to Milton Academy

20:53 Western Massachusetts Contenders: Taft, NMH, and Berkshire

22:37 Worcester Academy's Prospects

23:38 Founders League Boys Teams: Loomis Chaffee

23:53 Loomis Chaffee's Promising Season

24:21 Choate: The Team to Beat

24:59 Kimball Union Academy's Rise

25:57 Avon Old Farms and Nobles in the Rankings

26:52 Potential Top 10 Contenders

28:24 The Passion of Prep and High School Soccer

30:11 Extra Time: Fun and Creative Soccer Questions

In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, hosted by Matt Langone, University of Maine women’s soccer head coach Scott Atherley joins the show. They discuss the upcoming 2024 season, reflecting on Maine’s historic 2023 NCAA tournament appearance. Coach Atherley shares his insights on the evolution of the game, team dynamics, the influence of Canadian recruitment, and strategic preparations for the season. The conversation also covers Atherley's approach to developing players' mentality and handling transitions within the sport.

Topics

00:47 University of Maine Women's Soccer: Season Preparation

01:24 Reflecting on the Historic 2023 Season

02:42 Maine's Soccer Philosophy and Recruitment

06:24 Spotlight on Abby Kramer

07:42 Recruiting Strategies and Challenges

09:48 Selling the University of Maine Experience

13:19 Upcoming Season and Team Mindset

24:14 Extra Time: Fun Soccer Questions

31:56 Conclusion and Farewell

Damario McIntosh: Journey to the MLS Next All-Star Game

In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, host Matt Langone interviews Damario McIntosh, a 16-year-old midfielder for New England Revolution II, about his soccer journey. Damario discusses his recent honor of being selected for the MLS Next All-Star Game, his experience traveling, and his developmental journey from Jamaica to California to Boston. They also cover his transition from striker to right back, his soccer influences, and future goals. The episode concludes with a fun segment inspired by Ted Lasso quotes, touching on sports philosophy and personal challenges.

Topics

00:44 Damario McIntosh's MLS All-Star Game Experience

03:15 Journey from Jamaica to the USA

07:26 Switching Positions: From Striker to Right Back

12:09 Future Goals and Development

14:20 Extra Time: Fun Soccer Questions

21:27 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, host Matt Langone interviews Brendan Adams, the head coach of Bridgewater State men's soccer team. They discuss Adams' two-decade-long tenure, his approach to recruiting, the identity and evolution of his program, and the competitive landscape of Division III soccer in New England. The episode also features a fun segment with producer David Yas, where they evaluate famous soccer goal calls, potential warm-up songs, and soccer movie trailers.

Topics

00:34 Meet Coach Brendan Adams

00:45 Building a Winning Program

03:00 Challenges and Successes in the MassCac

11:20 Recruitment Strategies and Challenges

12:57 The Value of State School Programs

17:33 Balancing Coaching and Recruitment

18:48 Reflecting on a Coaching Career

21:15 Team's Potential for the Season

21:38 Facing New Challenges as Top Dogs

22:06 Extra Time Segment Introduction

22:39 Evaluating Iconic Soccer Goal Calls

27:48 Best Soccer Warm-Up Songs

29:34 Soccer Movie Trailers Quiz

32:53 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

The guest is Santiago Somorrostro, the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year from Nashua South, who achieved the honor twice consecutively. They discuss Santi's high school legacy, the surprise of winning the award, his transition to UMass Lowell for Division I soccer, and his involvement in soccer and other sports over the years. Santi shares advice for younger players, insights into his goals and playing style, and his excitement about starting his college soccer career.

Topics

01:47 Winning the Gatorade Player of the Year

03:29 Balancing Academics and Athletics

07:14 Choosing UMass Lowell

09:03 Club Soccer Experience

10:49 Family and Early Soccer Influences

12:18 Advice for Young Soccer Players

14:12 Preparing for College Soccer

17:16 Extra Time: Fun Soccer Questions

22:22 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of New England Soccer Journal's The Goal Podcast, host Matt Langone interviews Dave Barrett, head coach of Fairfield University women's soccer team. Dave discusses his insights and strategies as a college recruiter and coach, emphasizing the importance of athleticism, character, and transparency in the recruitment process. He shares experiences from his coaching career, talks about the blend of technical ability and character he seeks in players, and highlights the critical nature of fit for both the program and the athlete. The discussion also covers the importance of managing expectations, handling rejection, and the evolving role of social media in recruitment. As Fairfield prepares for another competitive season, Dave expresses optimism about the team's prospects and reflects on the significant emotional moments in his coaching journey.

Topics

00:45 Recruiting Insights and Philosophy

04:58 Handling Rejection and Thick Skin

13:03 Geographical Recruitment Strategy

15:03 Social Media's Role in Recruitment

19:21 The Importance of Live Interaction in Recruiting

19:50 Evaluating Player and Family Dynamics

20:46 The Initial Contact Process

21:44 Challenges with Player Parents

24:01 Goalkeeper Perspective in Coaching

25:48 Program Expectations for 2024

29:15 Extra Time: Fun and Insightful Questions

38:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The guest is Ally Giovino, a forward transitioning from Colgate University to the University of New Hampshire for a graduate year. Ally discusses her bittersweet emotions about leaving Colgate, her reasons for choosing Colgate over other schools during her recruiting process, her development as a player, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected her college experience. She also talks about her plans for the future, her strong work ethic, and her experiences coaching younger players during the summer.

Topics:

00:37 Reflecting on Colgate Experience 03:17 Navigating the COVID-19 Challenges 04:57 Choosing UNH for Grad Year 08:16 Leadership and On-Field Role 10:32 Recruitment and Transfer Insights 15:43 Early Soccer Journey and Multi-Sport Background 17:35 The Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports 19:07 The Impact of Club Soccer on Development 19:36 Summer Training Plans and Personal Coaching 20:17 Future in Coaching and Training Young Players 21:57 Extra Time: The Best Coach