Green Adds Eight for 2014 Season

Head Coach Shaun Green of the Central Connecticut men's soccer team has added eight Blue Devils to his 2014 roster. The newcomers will add to an already talented squad which earned the 2013 NEC Regular Season Championship and finished last season posting a 6-1 record in conference play.

CCSU will welcome Luke Albertini, Ryan Taylor, Nick Tunic, Anthony Marra, Carson D'Ambrosio, Dan Casey, Michael Miller and Charlie Giovenco for the 2014 season. 

LUKE ALBERTINI - North Attleborough, MA - Midfield
Albertini hails from North Attleborough, MA. The defensive midfielder has played for the New England Revolution Academy team since 2011. In 2012, Albertini traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the Future Champions Gauteng tournament. Before playing for the Revolution, he spent one season as a member of FC Greater Boston Bolts Academy team. In 2011, he received the Offensive MVP for North Attleboro High School.

"Luke is a talented defensive midfielder who has played at the highest level of youth soccer in the USA. His distribution from defense is consistently at a high level of play and he possesses great athletic ability. The professional coaching he has received from the New England Revolution staff has provided him the platform to excel at the NCAA Division I level at CCSU. He is a top-class person and we are extremely fortunate that he has chosen CCSU to continue his soccer career and education."-Head Coach Shaun Green

RYAN TAYLOR - South Windsor, CT - Forward
Taylor, a South Windsor, CT native, plays for Oakwood Soccer Club in the US Soccer Development Academy. He has played for Oakwood since the age of nine and established himself as a consistent goal scorer with the club. While at Oakwood, Taylor was selected to the US Soccer Regional Training Center in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2009, he played an important part in Oakwood's Northeast Region League Championship win. After transferring to Watkinson School from South Windsor High, Taylor tallied 30 goals and eight assists, leading Watkinson to the New England Prep School Championship, WNEPSSA Small School Championship, Hudson Valley League Championship and CISAC Championship.

"Ryan is one of the most exciting players to come out of Connecticut this year. He has tremendous speed, athletic ability and an instinct for scoring goals. He had great coaches at Oakwood Soccer Club, so he will come to the Blue Devils highly prepared for Division I soccer. We expect Ryan to be a major contributor to the starting line-up from day one. We are looking forward to seeing Ryan in a Blue Devil jersey next fall."-Head Coach Shaun Green

NICK TUNIC - Larchmont, NY - Forward
Tunic, an All-American forward from Larchmont, NY, played for Westchester FC in the US Soccer Development Academy. Prior to playing for Westchester, Tunic played for the TSF Academy team from 2009 to 2012 where he ranked as the top goal scorer all three years. In 2010, Tunic led TSF Academy to the Match Fit Chelsea Invitational Championship and was named the tournament's top goal scorer and team MVP. During his senior campaign at Mamaroneck High School, Tunic was named Section One's Large School Player of the Year and the Journal News Westchester/Putnam Boy's Soccer Player of the Year. He netted 24 goals and eight assists in Mamaroneck's perfect 16-0 regular season. Following the season, Tunic was selected to the NSCAA High School All-America Team and is one of only six New Yorkers named to the All-America Boy's Soccer Team, the only one from Westchester County.

"Nick is an exciting player. He is a proven goal scorer who has a knack for scoring game-winning goals. Nick will compete immediately for playing time in an attacking role with the Blue Devils. We are very fortunate to have another 'All American' high school athlete join our program." -Head Coach Shaun Green.

ANTHONY MARRA - Glen Head, NY - Midfield
Marra is a Glen Head, NY native and plays for Gottschee Soccer Club in the US Soccer Development Academy. Marra also played for Met Oval Academy team and for St. Anthony's High School.

"Anthony is a very technical player who will compete immediately on the left side of midfield. His distribution off the ball is at a very high level of play. He has competed at the best level of youth soccer in the USA and will add experience and depth to our midfield."-Head Coach Shaun Green

CARSON D'AMBROSIO - Coventry, CT - Goalkeeper
D'Ambrosio is a standout goalkeeper from Coventry, CT and is a current member of Oakwood Soccer Club U18 Academy team in the US Soccer Development Academy. The 6-3 keeper was an important player for the Oakwood team that advanced to the 2010 West Virginia Regionals and won the 2009 Connecticut State Cup Championship and Region I Championship. D'Ambrosio has been a member of Oakwood Soccer Club since age nine and was also a two-year varsity letterman for RHAM High School.

"Carson is an exceptional goalkeeper from Oakwood Soccer Club. He has the potential to be a phenomenal Division I goalkeeper at CCSU. He is big, strong and very talented. We are very excited that Carson has selected CCSU to play collegiate soccer."-Head Coach Shaun Green

DAN CASEY - Westborough, MA - Defender
Casey is a tenacious defender from Westborough, MA who currently plays for FC Bolts Celtic team in the US Soccer Development Academy. He was captain of the Bolts Pre-Academy team his freshman year. Prior to playing at FC Bolts Celtic, Casey played for the prestigious New England Revolution Academy team. Casey was also captain of the New England Eagles Maple Premier team and played for Westborough High School.

"Dan is a quality defender who can play either outside back or in central defense. He is a very intelligent player on the field and has excellent composure under pressure. I expect Dan to compete immediately for a starting position in defense. He has the tools to play Division I soccer, he just needs the opportunity. We are so thrilled he will be playing at CCSU next season."-Head Coach Shaun Green

MICHAEL MILLER - Brampton, Ontario - Goalkeeper
Miller is a transfer goalkeeper from Adams State University in Colorado. As a freshman at Adams State, Miller started every game and became the first male soccer player in the school's history to receive All-Conference honors.

"Michael will be a strong addition to our goalkeeping and we expect him to compete for playing time immediately. Mike has great reflexes and shot stopping ability. At 6-3 and 190lbs, he is definitely a presence in goal. Mike will play this spring for the Blue Devils."-Head Coach Shaun Green

CHARLIE GIOVENCO - Deer Park, IL - Defender
Giovenco is a transfer defender from Valparaiso University in Indiana. He played two years at Valparaiso before transferring to CCSU. At Barrington High School, Giovenco was ranked among Top Drawer Soccer's top-20 recruits in the Midwest. He earned All-Area recognition from the Daily Herald News as a senior, was named to the IHSA All-Sectional Team and was an All-Conference selection. Giovenco played club soccer for the Chicago Sockers FC Academy in the US Soccer Development Academy and started nearly every contest on the back line for the Sockers. He was also selected to the Illinois Olympic Development squad.

"Charlie is a transfer student from Indiana. He is a classy player as well as a classy kid.
Charlie will compete for the starting left back position. He is a very composed and technically gifted player. We are extremely fortunate to have a player of his quality transfer into our program."-Head Coach Shaun Green