Graduation Sport Type

1972 Soccer Athlete

Dom Spagnolo, a Class of 1972 graduate, was a catalyst for the boys soccer team during his time at Rye Neck. He spent four years as a member of the Varsity Soccer squad. In a single season, Spagnolo scored 47 goals, a school record that still stands today. Spagnolo also holds the school record for most goals scored in a single game with seven (7) goals scored during a single match. Spagnolo also broke the school and New York State record at the time for most career goals with 118 goals. Spagnolo accomplished this in a four year varsity career. To this day, Spagnolo is still the only Rye Neck Soccer player to ever reach the 118 mark within a four year span. The current Rye Neck school record for most career goals is set at 120 by Brian Mazza, but it is worth noting that this was accomplished in a five year varsity career by Mazza. Spagnolo broke the previously set all-time scoring record with his 118th goal coming during the 1971 New York State Section I Class C-D Open Championship match against Byram Hills High School. His 118th career goal scored that match led the Rye Neck Panthers to the Championship as they defeated Byram Hills 1-0. In doing so, Spagnolo beat the previous NYS record of 117 career goals, held by Tom Gentile of the Rochester, New York area. During his career, Spagnolo also accrued 49 career assists. In a dominant senior year, Spagnolo scored 47 goals and had 20 assists. 

During his soccer career at Rye Neck, Spagnolo was named an All-Conference, All-American, and All-County Player in ‘70 and ‘71, and was a ConEd Athlete of the Week Award winner in 1970. He also received the Sports Illustrated Merit Award in 1970. In 1972, Spagnolo was even featured in the Letterman Magazine. Outside of Soccer, Spagnolo also excelled in the classroom and on the stage. He was the President of the Senior Class of 1972 and played the lead role in the school musical “Paint Your Wagon.” 

After graduating from Rye Neck High School, Spagnolo attended the University of Hartford where he played Varsity Soccer all four years. During his time at Hartford, Spagnolo was awarded First Team All Star New England Soccer League in 1975 and All New England First Team in 1976. During the 1975-1976 season, Spagnolo played as an amateur for a semi-pro team called the Hartford Portuguese. In 1977, he was invited to try out for the Dallas Tornados of the NASL, but ultimately decided to pursue another career path outside of soccer. Spagnolo had a great impact on Rye Neck and truly was an incredible soccer player. In a letter dated November 16th, 1971, former Rye Neck Athletic Director Allen J. Hubschman described Spagnolo in one word when discussing his career, character, and leadership, “outstanding.”