Logan Falzarano led Lebanon High to a NHIAA Division II championship game berth this fall. And while he wishes the Raiders emerged as state champs, he’s happy to know that his competitive soccer career won’t end anytime soon.
The senior verbally committed to NCAA Division III Johns Hopkins in late September. He will enroll in the fall with an undecided major but is considering a career in statistics or engineering.
With interest from schools such as New York University, Colby College and Haverford, Falzarano knew his options were there, but decided on the Blue Jays because of the opportunity to move to an urban setting — Johns Hopkins is in Baltimore — and go to a school that annually ranks among the top U.S. universities in research and development expenditures.
His play with Global Premier Soccer New Hampshire also landed him on coaches’ radars. Two summers ago Falzarano traveled to Johns Hopkins for a camp in hopes of getting the Blue Jays’ attention.
“That’s when I sort of got my first experience with coach (Craig) Appleby and the Johns Hopkins program. Really liked the campus, really liked the kids that were counselors at the camp,” Falzarano said in a phone interview Monday night. “Then went back to the same camp last summer and thankfully, Coach Appleby reached out to me after the camp. He thought I showed well and wanted to move forward with me as a potential recruit.”
Falzarano, who also plays basketball, scored 19 goals this fall and led the Raiders with 37 points.
As a midfielder, he enjoys playing in a possession-based system, which is what Johns Hopkins runs. The Blue Jays have made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including this season’s trip to the second round.
“They play similar to Manchester City or at least they try to emulate it,” he said. “I think that fits my play style because while I am physical in a certain sense, the college game is just another step up in terms of physicality. I think that my strengths are my technical ability and my ability to pick out passes. I think that style of play suits my skill well.”
Wildcat Pride: Kimball Union Academy junior Lucie Turcotte competed with the French women’s national ice hockey team in the Six Nations Tournament in Slovakia in early November. The tournament establishes rankings for the World Championships in April.
Turcotte, who grew up in Canaan, was born in Gap, France, which allows for her to play with the national team. She was the youngest player in the tournament and the only French player representing an American high school.
“It was an incredible experience playing at the next level,” she said in a KUA press release. “It is an honor to represent my country. I know not many people get to do that. All of the athletes are much stronger, much faster, much more physical.”
A two-sport athlete at KUA, Turcotte played left wing in all three of France’s games. After a loss to Slovakia in the first game, the French were victorious in game No. 2, beating Norway 6-1. The win put France in the championship game, where they lost to lost to Hungary, 3-2.
“I’m going back to France in December for a pre-world championship camp before heading to Germany, where the Division 1A World Championships will take place,” she said. Turcotte previously played for the U18 team for two years before getting the call up to the national team.
Added KUA Athletic Director Mike Doherty: “It’s great for Lucie and great for Kimball Union Academy. We’re very excited about the opportunity she’s had, and we love the fact that she’s representing her country, but we love the fact that Kimball Union is a part of that as well.”
In the meantime, Turcotte will be back on the ice for the Wildcats this winter.
Cross Country: Over 20 runners from five different schools in the Upper Valley were named to the Southern Vermont League cross country all-opponent list.
Boys A Division: Mateo Bango, Owen Coates, Calef Hepler and Riley Shepherd from Woodstock; Tad Darrah, Eamon Deffner, Tobin Durham and Bram Tabachnik from Thetford.
Girls A Division: Madelyn Durkee from Thetford.
Boys B Division: Pau Carol Adroher, Johnathan Kasten, Aaron Mitchell and Zachary Schneider from Hartford; Desmond Piccicuto from Sharon; Owen Abrahamson from Windsor.
Girls B Division: Kayla Burnham, Katie Trombley and Beatrice Wendling from Hartford; Sophie Chesnut, Charlotte Reimanis and Laila Reimanis from Sharon.
Pete Nakos can be reached at 603-727-3306 or pnakos@vnews.com.