Profiles
| Steve Surace (C) | Senior center midfielder serving his fourth year on the Varsity level and second year as tri-captain. Skilled with superb vision and passing abilities, always a major threat for opposing teams to worry about. Was fourth on the team in points, with 4 goals and 9 assists. Compiled 50 wins over his 4 year career. Voted most improved player of the year. | Ben Laughton (C) | Senior defender and tri-captain who won many honors including ALL-FCIAC First Team, FCIAC Championship MVP, and Team MVP. Has perfected the art of tackling and has an extraordinary ability to win head balls. One of the leagues most distinguished defenders. Scored 3 goals this year (his fourth season on Varsity). | Ross Martin (C) | Senior midfielder and tri-captain named All-FCIAC First Team and All-Area, as well as invited to play in CT Senior Bowl. Tireless and extremely quick player. Set up many important goals with his pinpoint passing. Fifth on team in points. This was his third year on Varsity. | Francisco Restrepo | Senior midfielder spending his third year on Varsity. Extremely quick winger with amazing runs off the ball made it hard for opposing teams to mark him. Totally unselfish, 8 assists throughout the season. Always kept the team spirits high. A leader on and off the field. | Mike Annunziato | Senior forward on his third varsity year making an amazing comeback after a severe injury in the offseason. Strong and confident with a powerful shot. Hard and consistant worker, and a true team player, always with a big heart. | Jason Duran | Senior midfielder serving his second year on varsity. Diligent worker who refused to give up. His quick cuts and speedy runs made him one of the league's most dangerous wingers. Scored many goals and tallied a few assists as well. | Alfredo Perez | Senior goalie, third year on varsity. Improved tremendously over the past year. Amazing reflexes and countless big saves gave him and the rest of the team confidence. Posted 9 shutouts and had the lowest goals against average: 0.857! | Naki Mourtides | Senior spending his second year on the varsity level. A strong player and hard worker. Reliable left defender stopped the opposing players in their tracks and sparked many attacks with his long runs up field. Scored 2 goals and had several assists. | Luis Hernandez | Senior center midfielder serving his third year on the varsity level. Contributed with his close ball control and pretty passes. His size and strength made it difficult for opposing players to challenge him. | Peter Zezima | Senior midfielder spending his second year on Varsity. An endless worker with speedy runs and nice ball control. Contributed on the wings. Received this year's Coach's Award. | Paul Melitsanopoulos | Junior back-up goalkeeper spending his second year on Varsity. A tough player and hard worker with sure hands. Always supportive of his teammates no matter what the situation. A true leader - next year's captain. | Dwayne Wright | Junior forward spending his first year on the varsity level. Lightning quick with an ability to put the ball in the back of the net. Difficult for defenses to handle. Scored many important goals and tallied a couple assists. | Gino Mercuri | Junior defender spending his first year on varsity. Stepped up his play greatly throughout the season and made a huge impact in the defense, including saving several goals on the line! A strong player who will help guide the team next year. | Steve Cenatiempo | Sophomore forward serving his second year on the Varsity team. Scored 16 goals including many overtime game-winners (team's leading scorer). Many honors including All-State First Team and All-FCIAC First Team. Fast with tight ball control and passing abilities. | Dean Melitsanopoulos | Sophomore center midfielder serving his second year on the team. A big presence in the center of the field, accompanied Surace creating a dangerous duo. Very quick and skilled. Scored a large amount of important goals and had several assists (2nd on team in points). Named All-State and All-FCIAC First Teams. | Joe Funicello | Sophomore defender serving his second year on the team. Played a huge role in the center defense alongside Laughton. Also possesses perfect tackling and heading abilities. Hardnosed, never gives up for anything. Named to All-Area team. The team's Unsung Hero. Will be vital in defense next year. | Jimmy O'Hara | Sophomore defender spending his first year on Varsity. A quick-learning and reliable wing defender. Suffered a major knee injury which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Will play a big part in defense next year. | Dan Freshman | Sophomore midfielder, first time varsity member. A fast winger possessing fine skill. Will play a major role in the midfield in coming years. | Kevin Zezima | Sophomore midfielder, also first time playing Varsity. Good touch on the ball and nice passing. Improved over the season and scored a couple goals. Will be a big player in midfield next year. | Damian Beech | Sophomore in first Varsity season. Strong and fast player. Served on defense and midfield. Good ball skills. | Anthony Fraioli | Freshman serving first year on varsity. Promising player scored 3 goals in the 30 minutes that he played during the season. |
Kurt Simonsen - A lifelong Norwalk resident, Coach Simonsen just completed his fourth year as the varsity head coach, compiling a combined record of 50-18-6. Before taking over, he served as the program's junior varsity and freshmen coach for four years. A 1990 graduate of McMahon High School, he went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in English from the University of Connecticut at Storrs and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Bridgeport. During the school day Coach Simonsen works as an English Teacher at Norwalk High. In the off season, he serves as the assistant coach for the varsity baseball team and coaches in the Norwalk Soccer Indoor Program at Brien McMahon. He resides in Norwalk with his wife and two daughters.
George Kasparis - A 1994 graduate of Norwalk High School, Coach Kasparis just finished his fourth year as the varsity's assistant coach. He earned his Bachelors Degree in History from the University of Connecticut at Storrs and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Bridgeport. While holding a state certification in history education, Coach K teaches History at Norwalk High. Outside of soccer he is the freshman baseball coach. He resides in Norwalk.
Joe Surace - Coach Surace has just completed his third season on the Norwalk staff, guiding both the freshman and junior varsity teams. While also holding a referee certification, Coach Surace spends much of his time actively coaching in Norwalk Junior Soccer with his travel teams. Resides in Norwalk with his wife and three soccer playing sons.
Nick Soumelidis - Coach Soumelidis played a major part in the Varisty season this past year. He served as an assistant and was always there with guidance and his knowledge of the game. Quite often he willing went to scout other teams and advise our squad on what to expect. Soumelidis resides in Norwalk and recently graduated from college majoring in computer engineering.
BACK to History 2002