Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame

CLASS OF 2013
Tony Carvahlo, Austin Daniels, Tom Gray, Kristine Lilly, James Lyman
January 26, 2013

Induction dinner photos are accessible here: http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=6134310016/a=9334471_9334471/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Tony Carvalho

Tony Carvalho has been a high level soccer player for the past 35 years and involved coach and administrator in Connecticut. He was a dangerous midfielder for the powerful UConn men’s program, which won 19 games in 1978 and set the foundation for its 1981 national championship run. Tony was an essential player for the Hartford Portuguese Connecticut Soccer League championship teams in the 1990’s and Cheshire Azzurri champions in the 2000’s. He continues to play, coach, and direct soccer programs today. Tony played on CJSA State Select Teams (1973-75). He was a leader on University of Connecticut soccer team (1976-78) and earned All Conference in 1977. Carvahlo played many years for Hartford Portuguese, (CSL Champions & CSSA State Cup Champions) and Cheshire Azzurri (SASL Masters League Champions & CSSA State Cup Champions) soccer clubs. He was Cheshire Soccer Club's President & Coach. In addition, Carvahlo was Academica FC Premier Coach, Premier Board of Governors Chairperson, and a CJSA South Central District Representative.

Austin Daniels

Austin established himself as an exceptional women’s soccer coach when he brought the University of Hartford women’s team to national prominence. He led the team to six NCAA tournament appearances (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’94, & ’95) including the 1992 Final Four, and reached #2 in the national rankings that year as well. As Head Coach of the New England Mutiny of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (2003-05), he reached national title game in 2004 and semifinals in 2003 and 2005. Daniels was University of Colorado Women’s Soccer Head Coach (1996-2001), the first coach in their program's history; University of Hartford Women’s Soccer Coach (1989-1996); and Colorado College Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach (1986-88), where his team lost 1986 NCAA title game to North Carolina. He was E.O. Smith HS Girls Soccer Coach (1981-83) guiding them to a State Championship in 1981. In addition, Daniels was CJSA State Director of Coaching, (2006-2010), WPSL National Coach of the Year (2004), NSCAA National Women’s Division I Coach of the Year (1989), NSCAA New England Women’s Division I Coach of the Year (1989 & 1992), and North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year (1991, 1992, 1995).

Tom Gray (Posthumously)

Tom was a pioneer in girl’s soccer. Over his soccer career, he was elected as the first Vice President of girls soccer programs for CJSA in 1979, and during seven year tenure, participation in CJSA girls programs increase from 1200 to over 9000 young women. Gray was the founder of Tolland Soccer Club girls program (1976). He then coached Tolland U14 girls to become CJSA State Champions (1978) and was recognized with the CJSA State Coach of the Year Award (1987) and U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region 1 Coach of the Year Award (1987). He personally coached over 800 girls in his 25-year career with Tolland Soccer Club. Tom was honored with a Tolland Soccer Club Scholarship Award named for him -- the "Tom Gray Play with Pride Award" -- given each year to a girl and boy who consistently display a high level of sportsmanship, teamwork, and a positive attitude and respect for themselves, teammates, coaches and soccer officials. Gray also held positions as State Cup Chair and Director of State Team Operations for CJSA. Recipient of CJSA Long Term Achievement Award (2003).

Kristine Lilly

Simply put, Kristine Lilly is quite possibly the most successful soccer player of all time. Lilly’s 352 appearances (“caps”) for her national team dwarfs all others in the world, none having reached 300. She attended Wilton High School in Wilton, Connecticut where she won 3 state championships for Wilton H.S. (1986, ’87, ’88). As a 16 year old she played for the US Women’s National Team for the first time and scored her 1st international goal when she was 16 years and 22 days old.
Lilly was recruited by, and eventually chose to play for North Carolina women's soccer team from 1989 to 1992. During her time at UNC, the Tar Heels won 4 consecutive NCAA Championships and she was a 4 time All-American. Lilly also won the Hermann Trophy as a junior in 1991. Kristine competed in five FIFA Women's World Cup: China 1991, Sweden 1995, USA 1999, USA 2003 and China 2007; and three Olympics: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004; altogether playing in 46 matches and scoring 12 goals at those eight global tournaments. With her USA teams, in eight World cup and Olympic tournaments, she had 39 wins, 3 losses, and 4 draws; finished first place with her teams 4 times, second place once and third place 3 times. Lilly was crowned World Cup Champion in 1991 and 1999 and Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996 and 2004. As a 23 year veteran of the US National team she played in 352 games, scoring 130 goals and assisting on 105, netting her last goal when she was 38 years old. Lilly was named USSF Player of the Year in1993, 2005 and 2006, and was First Team All-WUSA in all 3 WUSA seasons .She would go on to earn All-Star and Best 11 accolades during 2 seasons in the WPS.
In 2012 she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

James Lyman

Jim had a 25 playing career starting at age 10, playing on numerous town teams as well as “State” or “All Star” teams through middle school & high school. He competed all over New England as well as Texas & California. Lyman traveled to England and Scotland as part of a CJSA U16 State Select Team at age 14. As a four year starter at E.O. Smith H.S. in Storrs, CT (1974-1977) he was chosen All-State (1975, 76 & 77) and All New England (1977), becoming Class “M” State Champion (1976) and Class “LL” State Champion (1977). Lyman was the starting sweeper on the United States National Junior Team (1977) that earned a Bronze Medal in the Junior World Cup in Puerto Rico. Lyman stayed in Storrs and was a four year starter at the University of Connecticut (1978-1981). He won the NCAA Division 1 National Championship (1981), assisting on the game winning and national championship winning goal in sudden-death OT versus Alabama A&M. Jim continued playing after graduation from UConn in the Connecticut Soccer League for the Hartford Hellenic, Waterbury Portuguese and Ludlow Portuguese.

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Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame