Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hobart Soccer @ 70

Looking back on seven decades of Statesmen soccer — and the program’s future.

As Hobart Soccer began its 70th season, Head Coach Shawn Griffin P’24 and two of the program’s most ardent supporters, Ralph A. Pica ’56 and Honorary Trustee Thomas B. Poole ’61, P’91, L.H.D. ’06, joined Finger Lakes Radio host and HWS play-by-play sports announcer Ted Baker for a conversation about the team’s early years. The Statesmen reflected on their experiences on campus, their distinguished careers, the evolution of student athletics and their hopes for this season and beyond.

Pica was a member of the program’s first team in 1953 — and scored the program’s first goal. “We had quite a good nucleus of players,” he said of that inaugural soccer roster. “We played a pretty tough, long-passing game. It’s not the same game you see today, but it was a lot of fun.”

Despite never having played soccer before, Poole was offered a spot on the roster and would ultimately captain the 1960 team, which ended its season with a 6–1–1 record. Poole, who was inducted to the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002, noted how the close bonds that developed between players and coaches was mirrored in the wider campus community. “Hobart turned out to be a special school. Everyone turned out to be your friend.... It was a camaraderie I didn’t expect but I appreciated greatly,” he said.

Listen to the interview here.