This story was originally published in New England Soccer Journal. Hartford Athletic supporters can use this special link for 25% off either a year-long digital or all-access subscription. Launched in March 2013, New England Soccer Journal covers youth soccer up to the professional ranks across the entire region. Click here for more info and to subscribe.
Earlier this week, Giovanni Calderon (North Haven, Conn.) made some small – but notable – history for professional soccer in New England.
The 19-year-old center back signed a USL Academy contract with Hartford Athletic, a route that allows him to maintain collegiate eligibility while training and competing with the local USL Championship side.
Calderon is a Class of 2021 commit for the United States Naval Academy, but feels this in-between step will make him “over-prepared” before joining the Patriot League program.
“The USL Academy contract is so important because now I see myself taking this path, it shows a route you can take,” Calderon said. “Youth players locally or who have tried out, they maybe didn’t know it’s something they can do at Hartford Athletic.”
USL Academy contracts represent a growing pathway across the country’s second division, with clubs like Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Phoenix Rising FC, San Antonio FC and Sacramento Republic FC employing them. Several are home to U.S. youth internationals, giving teenagers with high potential the opportunity to develop in a professional environment at an earlier age.
There’s novelty with Calderon’s deal, though – and he’ll have to work for professional minutes. The Connecticut-based side already counts first-team players Thomas Janjigian, Alex Lara and Walid Yacoubou as center-back options on the depth chart.
“Gio gives us another option at center back with a good calmness on the ball and a willingness to defend his goal,” head coach Harry Watling said in a release.
A budding part of Puerto Rico’s national team, Calderon has played locally for Beachside SC’s academy program. He’s also had stints at New York City FC and D.C. United’s academies, so he’s been around MLS youth environments.
Before signing with Hartford Athletic, Calderon spent the fall with Nomads SC, a youth club in the San Diego, Calif., area. The sum total is a wide range of experience as Calderon chases his professional dream, while still planning to play Division I college soccer next fall.
“I’m working every day to get into the starting lineup, just like every guy on the roster,” Calderon said. “I feel I’m well-situated to get there. The contract is the easy part, but maintaining this spot and consistency is the hard part. I’m doing everything I can to stay consistent and break into the XI and get minutes. That’s my intention.”
Calderon has been training with Hartford Athletic since late March, featuring in scrimmages against the University of Hartford, NYCFC’s first team and Revolution II. A connection got him on technical director Luis Silva’s radar screen, giving them another Puerto Rican international alongside former Assumption College midfielder/defender Nicolas Cardona.
He’s due to join Puerto Rico for Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in early June, too. El Huracan Azul are in Concacaf’s Group F for Round One and led by head coach Dave Sarachan, a longtime assistant under now-New England Revolution head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena during their LA Galaxy days.
“The biggest difference at this level is it’s definitely a faster game, but I feel I’ve adapted to it well,” Calderon said. “Coming back from international experience, that helped me leave an impression with the coaching staff and show I can compete.”
As historic as Calderon’s deal is, Hartford Athletic previously signed forward Alfonso Vasquez (Windham, Conn.) ahead of the 2020 campaign. The 18-year-old holds Connecticut’s all-time high school goalscoring record, impressing as a preseason trialist under then-head coach Rahdi Jaidi.
With Calderon and Vazquez charting their respective bits of history, there are emerging pathways for Connecticut natives chasing professional soccer. Hartford Athletic’s academy program is in its infancy, too, so perhaps other angles will arise.
“Going academy to the USL, it’s far different than I was expecting,” Calderon said, adding it’s a goal of his to play professionally in Connecticut. “I thought I’d be finishing the MLS NEXT season until Navy started, but then Hartford Athletic comes and I’m training with pros every day. It’s a great opportunity.”
This story was originally published in New England Soccer Journal. Hartford Athletic supporters can use this special link for 25% off either a year-long digital or all-access subscription. Launched in March 2013, New England Soccer Journal covers youth soccer up to the professional ranks across the entire region. Click here for more info and to subscribe.
Earlier this week, Giovanni Calderon (North Haven, Conn.) made some small – but notable – history for professional soccer in New England.
The 19-year-old center back signed a USL Academy contract with Hartford Athletic, a route that allows him to maintain collegiate eligibility while training and competing with the local USL Championship side.
Calderon is a Class of 2021 commit for the United States Naval Academy, but feels this in-between step will make him “over-prepared” before joining the Patriot League program.
“The USL Academy contract is so important because now I see myself taking this path, it shows a route you can take,” Calderon said. “Youth players locally or who have tried out, they maybe didn’t know it’s something they can do at Hartford Athletic.”
USL Academy contracts represent a growing pathway across the country’s second division, with clubs like Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Phoenix Rising FC, San Antonio FC and Sacramento Republic FC employing them. Several are home to U.S. youth internationals, giving teenagers with high potential the opportunity to develop in a professional environment at an earlier age.
There’s novelty with Calderon’s deal, though – and he’ll have to work for professional minutes. The Connecticut-based side already counts first-team players Thomas Janjigian, Alex Lara and Walid Yacoubou as center-back options on the depth chart.
“Gio gives us another option at center back with a good calmness on the ball and a willingness to defend his goal,” head coach Harry Watling said in a release.
A budding part of Puerto Rico’s national team, Calderon has played locally for Beachside SC’s academy program. He’s also had stints at New York City FC and D.C. United’s academies, so he’s been around MLS youth environments.
Before signing with Hartford Athletic, Calderon spent the fall with Nomads SC, a youth club in the San Diego, Calif., area. The sum total is a wide range of experience as Calderon chases his professional dream, while still planning to play Division I college soccer next fall.
“I’m working every day to get into the starting lineup, just like every guy on the roster,” Calderon said. “I feel I’m well-situated to get there. The contract is the easy part, but maintaining this spot and consistency is the hard part. I’m doing everything I can to stay consistent and break into the XI and get minutes. That’s my intention.”
Calderon has been training with Hartford Athletic since late March, featuring in scrimmages against the University of Hartford, NYCFC’s first team and Revolution II. A connection got him on technical director Luis Silva’s radar screen, giving them another Puerto Rican international alongside former Assumption College midfielder/defender Nicolas Cardona.
He’s due to join Puerto Rico for Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in early June, too. El Huracan Azul are in Concacaf’s Group F for Round One and led by head coach Dave Sarachan, a longtime assistant under now-New England Revolution head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena during their LA Galaxy days.
“The biggest difference at this level is it’s definitely a faster game, but I feel I’ve adapted to it well,” Calderon said. “Coming back from international experience, that helped me leave an impression with the coaching staff and show I can compete.”
As historic as Calderon’s deal is, Hartford Athletic previously signed forward Alfonso Vasquez (Windham, Conn.) ahead of the 2020 campaign. The 18-year-old holds Connecticut’s all-time high school goalscoring record, impressing as a preseason trialist under then-head coach Rahdi Jaidi.
With Calderon and Vazquez charting their respective bits of history, there are emerging pathways for Connecticut natives chasing professional soccer. Hartford Athletic’s academy program is in its infancy, too, so perhaps other angles will arise.
“Going academy to the USL, it’s far different than I was expecting,” Calderon said, adding it’s a goal of his to play professionally in Connecticut. “I thought I’d be finishing the MLS NEXT season until Navy started, but then Hartford Athletic comes and I’m training with pros every day. It’s a great opportunity.”
