High School: Cheshire Academy
New England Roundup: Connecticut
February, 10, 2012
Feb 10
1:52
PM ET
By Roger Brown | ESPNBoston.com
Paula Hagopian's talent on the soccer field is so obvious she was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year even though her Kingswood Oxford team finished with a record below .500 last season.
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
New England Roundup: Connecticut
September, 1, 2011
9/01/11
11:54
AM ET
By Roger Brown | ESPNBoston.com
Malik Golden didn't know it at the time, but when his Cheshire Academy team defeated New Hampton (N.H.) Prep, 49-20, in the New England Prep School Athletic Council's Dan Rourke Bowl last fall, a friendship was born that would end up shaping Golden's future.
Golden crossed paths with New Hampton quarterback/defensive back Jake Kiley that day, and their friendship grew when each attended a football camp at Penn State last spring.
Kiley committed to Penn State earlier this summer, and then did his best to persuade Golden to do the same.
“We're going to be roommates – at least that's the plan,” Golden said last Wednesday, shortly after he committed to Penn State. “We got the best of him that day, but Jake's a great player.
“It's one of the toughest decisions I've every made in my life. To be honest I went with my gut feeling. Every person I talked to had nothing but good things to say about Penn State. I just confirmed that during my visit there [earlier this month].”
Kiley is expected to play defensive back at Penn State. Although most schools recruited Golden to play wide receiver, he may join Kiley in Penn State's defensive backfield.
“That's something I wanted to talk about during my visit,” Golden said. “Wherever the team needs me. We'll see when I get on campus.”
Golden, who is entering his senior year, made 48 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns in nine games last season. His best performance came against New Hampton. He rushed for 197 yards and caught nine passes for 105 yards that day.
Golden said he was also considering Boston College, Connecticut and Iowa.
“It's all done,” Golden said. “It feels good.”
Golden crossed paths with New Hampton quarterback/defensive back Jake Kiley that day, and their friendship grew when each attended a football camp at Penn State last spring.
Kiley committed to Penn State earlier this summer, and then did his best to persuade Golden to do the same.
“We're going to be roommates – at least that's the plan,” Golden said last Wednesday, shortly after he committed to Penn State. “We got the best of him that day, but Jake's a great player.
“It's one of the toughest decisions I've every made in my life. To be honest I went with my gut feeling. Every person I talked to had nothing but good things to say about Penn State. I just confirmed that during my visit there [earlier this month].”
Kiley is expected to play defensive back at Penn State. Although most schools recruited Golden to play wide receiver, he may join Kiley in Penn State's defensive backfield.
“That's something I wanted to talk about during my visit,” Golden said. “Wherever the team needs me. We'll see when I get on campus.”
Golden, who is entering his senior year, made 48 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns in nine games last season. His best performance came against New Hampton. He rushed for 197 yards and caught nine passes for 105 yards that day.
Golden said he was also considering Boston College, Connecticut and Iowa.
“It's all done,” Golden said. “It feels good.”
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Scott Barboza
Scott Barboza joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools editor/reporter in May 2010. He spent the previous three seasons working in the New England Patriots media relations department after a stint at the Taunton Daily Gazette, where he covered everything from Little League baseball to the Boston Red Sox. The Fall River native is a graduate of Emerson College. He can be reached at sbarboza@espnboston.com.
Brendan Hall
Brendan Hall joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools reporter/editor in May 2010, after four years covering high schools for The Boston Globe. The Westminster, Mass. native also served on the Globe's Bruins beat last season. Hall is a graduate of UMass Amherst. He can be reached at bhall@espnboston.com.
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