Class of 2017

Dave Clarke
Mario Gilardini
Joseph LaRosa
Christopher Parsons
Thomas Poitras
Catherine Spence
Wolfgang Woischke

Photographs from the 2017 Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame Induction.

Click on link below to view.

https://ericfoleyphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/3970755

Password:   CT_SOCCER

DAVE CLARK

Dave Clarke has been successful in each
of his playing and coaching endeavors. He
played at Central Connecticut State University
(1988-91) and for the Connecticut
Wolves (USISL/A-League, 1993-98). Clarke
has been a successful youth, high school,
and college coach, including: West Hartford
Soccer Club (1988-93, State Cup Winners
1990, 1992, 1994), Newington High School
Boys (CCC South Champions 1995, 1996),
University of New Haven Women (1998-99,
NECC Coach of the Year 1998), Windsor
World Class Girls (U16 USYSA National
Champions 1999), and Quinnipiac University Women (1999-Present, NEC
Coach of the Year 2000). He has been the Director of the CJSA Coach Education
Program (1997-2003) and is currently a United States National Staff Coach
(1998-Present).

MARIO GILARDINI

Mario Gilardini has been on the field
officiating high school games for
over 25 years. He has been deeply
involved in West Hartford and Avon
Soccer Clubs for more than 20 years,
serving as referee assignor for both.
Gilardini has been president of the
West Hartford Youth Soccer Association
(Boys) since 1990. He was a
regular referee and assignor for the
Women’s Soccer League in West
Hartford from 1998 - 2013. As a player,
Gilardini played for Triestina Soccer
Club in the Connecticut Soccer League from 1962-64. He was a board
member of the Italian American Stars in the mid 1960’s.

JOSEPH LaROSA

Joe LaRosa was the founder of the Connecticut
Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
He served as Secretary of Connecticut
State Soccer Association, 1993-1999, and
earned the Connecticut State Soccer Association
Media Award in 1992. Joe has
been a soccer writer, author, TV analyst
and producer (1980-1994). He hosted and
produced SOCCER SCENE, weekly local
soccer program featured at halftime of live
Serie A matches from Italy broadcast on
RAI America affiliate, WRDM-TV13. He
provided In-studio commentating for RAI America affiliate, WRDM-TV-13’s
international soccer broadcasts. Additionally, LaRosa was an analyst for
ESPN INTERNATIONAL worldwide cablecasts of soccer. LaRosa’s soccer
coverage was published by AP, UPI, Soccer America, The Herald of New
Britain, The Day of New London & several Connecticut weekly newspapers.
he covered youth, high school, amateur, professional & international soccer
including the 1994 World Cup. Joe also wrote three books on soccer: World
Cup Soccer Trivia, World Class & America’s World Cup.

CHRISTOPHER PARSONS

Chris Parsons played youth soccer in Farmington,
Connecticut, winning U12-19 state
championships (1976-83). He captained
Farmington High School to a state title
in 1982 and earned All State honors that
year. Chris played collegiate soccer at
Middlebury College and became an NCAA
All American in 1986, leading his team to
the #2 ranking in Division III, and played in
the All New England Senior Bowl. Parsons
continued into coaching at Champlain College
(1993-97), Vassar (1997-2002), and
the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New
London, Connecticut (2002-present). Parsons has recorded over 200
college wins and his record at USCGA stands at 132-114-32. He earned
NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year Award (1995) and the NEWMAC Men’s
Soccer Coach of the Year in 2007, 2012, and 2014.

CATHERINE SPENCE

Catherine Spence was a powerful goalscorer
for Hartford Public High School
from 1980-83. She scored 107 goals
in 3 years and earned NSCAA All New
England recognition in 1983. She was
inducted into the Hartford Public Hall of
Fame in 2012. Spence went on to play
collegiate soccer at UMASS Amherst.
She was an NSCAA All American in
1985 and represented the East team at
the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1986. She
was a force on a powerful UMass team
and led them to four consecutive NCAA
Final Four appearances. UMass placed 3rd (1984), 4th (1985 & 86), and
2nd (1987) in each of her years. Her five goals set a NCAA tournament
scoring record in 1984.

THOMAS POITRAS

Tom Poitras was an All-State player at
Southington High School, NCAA Division
II National Champion at Southern
CT (1987), and played professionally for
the CT Wolves (1993-94). As a collegiate
coach, he led the University of New Haven
men from 1994-97, (38-32-5), and
earned 1996 New England Collegiate and
NEISL Coach of the Year awards. Poitras
continued his coaching at Southern New
Hampshire Univ (1998-2003, 81-25-16),
led them to the NCAA Division II National
Championship match (2002), and earned
the 2002 NSCAA Division II New England Region Coach of the Year. Moving
on to the Univ of Wisc-Green Bay, (2004-2010, 72-46-18), he reached
the Horizon League Championship for the first time in program history, and
the NCAA Division 1 Tournament. Poitras returned to the state in 2011 to
coach the University of Hartford. He is a US Soccer Development Academy National Team Scout and
former ODP Region I and Region II staff coach.

WOLFGANG WOISCHKE

Wolfgang Woischke came to Mitchell College
in New London, CT, after playing at
Port Washington HS in Nassau County,
NY. Wolfgang earned All American recognition
at Mitchell in 1967 and was team
captain in 1968. He continued playing at
University of Bridgeport and was an All
New England selection and NEISL All Star
in 1970. He led his team to the NCAA tournament
and was their team captain and
MVP. Woischke played for the Bridgeport
Italians (1970-73) and won the CT Soccer
League title in 1971. He played professionally
for the Connecticut Wildcats (1974) and Connecticut Yankees of
the American Soccer League in 1975. Woischke coached Bullard-Havens
Technical HS (1973-77) and reached the Class L title game in 1977.
Woischke was inducted into the Mitchell College Athletic Hall of Fame in
2006. Senior Executive VIP Hospitality Program Partner for 2006 FIFA
World Cup in Germany.