Wilton Product Named Top New England Soccer Player of All Time

In its most recent edition, the New England Soccer Journal selected the top 50 players of all time from New England, and not surprisingly, Kristine Lilly of Wilton topped the list.

Lilly became a member of the U.S. women’s national team while attending Wilton High School, then played at the University of North Carolina from 1989 to 1993. The Tar Heels won the national championship each year of Lilly’s tenure.

She played on two World Cup championship teams, earning fame for blocking a China shot at the goal line during overtime of the 1999 final match. She also competed in three Olympic Games, winning the gold medal in 1996 and 2004 and the silver in 2000.

She received a Gold Key Award from the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance in 2012, and was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014 (video below).

Eleven Connecticut players made the top 50 list, and nine more received honorable mention:

• Kristine Lilly, Wilton (#1)
• Kyle Martino, Westport (#16)
• Curt Onalfo, Ridgefield (#19)
• Lyle Yorks, Storrs (#20)
• Alyssa Naeher, Seymour (#28)
• Pedro DeBrito, Waterbury (#30)
• Pat Phelan, Enfield (#40)
• David Vaudreuil, Canton (#41)
• Tiffany Weimer, North Haven (#43)
• Vanessa Pruzinsky Peterson, Trumbull (#44)
• John DeBrito, Waterbury (#46)
• John Ball, Newtown (HM)
• Tony DiCicco, Wethersfield (HM)
• Rob Jachym, Meriden (HM)
• Mickey Kydes, Norwalk (HM)
• Kia McNeill, Avon (HM)
• Carlos Parra, West Haven (HM)
• Katie Schoepfer, Waterford (HM)
• Pierre Venditti, Milford (HM)
• Kevin Wylie, Ridgefield (HM)

Photo credit: mnfutboljim via flickr creative commons; video via YouTube