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Class of 2016
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STEPHEN H.BAUMANN
Steve Baumann began his outstanding
soccer career in Westport, Connecticut.
He led Staples High School
to 3 straight Class LL appearances,
winning titles in 1967 and ’69, and
runnerup in 1968, compiling a 43-
3-3 record in that time. Baumann
attended UPenn and led them to
their only two Ivy League titles and
3 NCAA appearances. He was a
two-time Ivy League and Mid Atlantic
Conference honoree and earned
All-America recognition in 1973. He finished
with 30 goals and 39 assists at Penn,
establishing the career assist and points
records that still stand. Baumann became
the first round pick of the Miami Toros in the
1974 NASL draft. He was recognized as Toros
Player of the Year and played for three years
until 1977.
Steve is a member of the Staples HS and UPenn
Halls of Fame. He was named to the UPenn Athletic
All Century Team.
LAURA VALADE COLLINS
Laura played youth soccer
for Trumbull United, Wilton Comets,
and Connecticut Olympic Development
Program teams. She became a 4-year
starter for Yale University (1988-’91),
led the Ivy League in scoring (‘90) and
finished as the second leading scorer
all time. In 1991 Collins was the team
captain, team MVP, became the first
Yale woman to earn Ivy League Player
of the Year, and earned MVP in the New
England Senior All Star game. In 1991
Laura was recognized as one of the top
30 senior female NCAA soccer players
in the country by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America.After
college Collins joined Opus County Soccer Club (1993-2014) and the Boston
Renegades (1996-’99) of the W-League. She reached the W-League title
game in 1998, was named to the All-Tournament Team, and played in the
All-Star Classic Game. For Opus County, Collins reached the semifinal
and final game of the National Amateur Cup in 1993 and 1994, respectively.
PAUL DiTOMMASO, SR.
Paul DiTommaso, Sr., played in the
Connecticut Soccer League from 1955
– 1961 for the Italian-American Stars
and Balnea USA, both Hartford teams.
Since then, he has had tremendous
influence in Connecticut through his
work with Farmington Soccer Club
and creation of the Farmington Sports
Arena (FSA). DiTommaso was on the
original coaching staff for Farmington
SC in 1973 and has been an active
member since. His Farmington youth teams
won State Cup titles in 1975, ’77, ’79, ’83,
and ’84.
DiTommaso built Farmington Sports Arena in
2001. The indoor soccer facility has since grown
into a multi-use facility that now hosts FSA FC
and includes a state of the art outdoor soccer
compound. FSA is one of the premier soccer centers
in the state where hundreds of youth, senior,
and adult soccer teamsthroughout Connecticut
compete each year.
GIL HOKAYMA
At SCSU (1992-1995), Gil Hokayma
led the ‘Owls’ to four consecutive final
four appearances, earning two NCAA
National Championships (1992, 1995).
He eaned All-NECC honors (4 years),
NCAA All-American recognition, Final
Four Offensive MVP, a Senior Bowl
selection. To cap his collegiate career
in 1995, Gil was named the NCAA National
Player of the Year.
After college, Hokayma played for the
Connecticut Wolves of USISL (1998-
1999), the Bridgeport Italians in the
Connecticut Soccer League (3 state
championships) and Fas Athenian in
the New Haven League(5 league titles).
He currently plays for New Haven American
in the Shoreline Adult Soccer League.
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KENNETH MURPHY
Kenny Murphy helped Staples HS win
3 FCIAC titles (1973-75) and a state
championship in 1973. He was all
conference (1974-75), All State (1974-
75), All New England and team captain
(1975). At UConn (1976-1979) he was
part of powerful teams that reached
the NCAA tournament 3 times and
earned two Yankee Conference titles
(1976 & ’78). Murphy was honored as
All Yankee Conference (1977-79), All
NEISL and All New-England (1978 &
79), team captain (1979) and played in the
1980 Senior Bowl. Murphywas drafted by the
Hartford Hellions (MISL) & (NASL) (1979).
He signed with Detroit Express and then the
Washington Diplomats(1980-81). He is an inductee
in the UConn and Fairfield CountySports Halls of
Fame.
SAL RIZZA
Salvatore Rizza was an outstanding
player in the Connecticut Soccer
League in the 1950’s and ‘60’s.
He was a playmaker and leader
of the powerful Italian-American
Stars, beginning his career with
them at age 15, and later became
their player-coach. Rizza help the
I-A Stars capture six State Open
Cup titles in 1956, ’57, ’58, ’64, ’68
& ’69, and multiple CSL championships
during that time. In 1961, he helped the Stars
reach the final of the U.S. National Amateur Cup
final. Six years later in 1967, he led the Stars as
their player-coach and won the United States
Amateur Cup championship – the onlyteam in
Connecticut soccer history to do so. He was a
mainstay inthe midfield of one of the most
consistent, successful clubs teams in the state
during this time.