Claudio Pizzicarola '24 Recruiting Profile

My name is Claudio Pizzicarola. I was born into a soccer family, with my Father having been born in Italy and playing his entire life. The game became almost a second nature to me by the time I could run, and I have been in love with it ever since. As a player, it is my goal to always take my game to the highest level possible. I am determined to work on my abilities and be the best player that I can be, and my level of effort supports this statement. I am always there for my teammates and offer support and motivation when necessary, and I carry a very positive mindset. I also find that I am a very easily coachable player, and I work hard to get results when the time comes. 

I am a right footed winger and additionally play as an inverted winger or fullback and am a part of the graduating class of 2024. I am an effective dribbler and distributor, and my style of play places an emphasis on my advanced technical ability. I utilize my control and first touch to help my team break the lines of defense and quickly advance into the final third. As well as this, I love to be in 1v1 situations with a defender where I can take them on and beat them and fire in a quick cross or shot on target. Off the ball I scan the pitch and utilize dummy runs and feints to create space to receive the ball. Defensively, I track back when necessary and will put in a strong challenge in these situations. I also take pride in my ability to stay composed and never let my emotions get the better of me while doing my best to make sure my teammates do the same. 

I compete year round, starting in the fall with Trumbull High School where our team achieved our 6th Conference Championship win (FCIAC), the first seed in Connecticut's Class LL High School State Tournament, and a season best 8th ranking in the nation (United Soccer Coaches Poll 10/18/22). In the winter, I train and play with Ole Futsal Academy based in Fairfield CT, and in the spring I play club soccer for Trumbull United Soccer Club where we compete in the USYS North Atlantic Region and attend regional showcases. 

Outside of soccer, I enjoy spending time with my peers and giving back to the community. I am a volunteer coach for the youth programs of Trumbull and neighboring town Monroe, and am a member of the Catholic Church. In my free time I enjoy running, playing pickup soccer basketball and football, ceramics, and biking. 

It is my goal to play at the collegiate level or further and I believe that I can attain this goal by outworking my competition and becoming a more effective player that gives his all until the final whistle. 

Thank you for your time.