Josiah Fragnito '18 Recruiting Profile

    The greatest moment of my athletic career was leading my Empire United club team to a NYW State Cup victory during the 2015/2016 season. I was the top goal scorer on the team and in our regional league, which we also won. This experience however has not influenced me the most . What has been the most influential experience of my soccer career has been playing for Empire United US Soccer DA. On this team it is the first time I have not been a consistent starter.  My primary role has been to come in later in a game, to add an extra spark for the team, spurring us on to hold onto a lead or to gain it.  I initially was not pleased with this, however I decided to embrace the role and to put forward my best effort.

   As a result of me "Coming off the Bench" I have been able to greatly impact games and help my team earn valuable points. Against a strong New England MLS team I scored a second half game winner in a 4-3 victory in the fall and netted a second half go ahead 1-0 goal against the run of play in the spring game (ended 1-1) .  Against a very strong NY City MLS team I helped set up a late game winner in the fall and set up a second half second goal in a 2-0 win in the spring, both against the run of play. I won POG honors coming off the bench earning 2 quick assists to start the second half against the Boston Bolts US DA team, putting the game within reach (we were down 3-0). Playing up for the u17/18 Empire DA team I scored a late goal, again against the run of play, putting us up 2-0 and the game out of reach against a strong BW Gottschee DA team. I scored 3 goals in 3 games in the US DA Summer Showcase, 2 of them the game winning goal.

  This experience has helped me to become more humble and realize that the team's success is more important than my ego. I have embraced my role on the team and am confident that I will continue to make a positive impact. I know that the lessons I have learned from this experience will make me a better soccer player, a better teammate, and help me through my entire life.