Rich Costanzo Explained

Rich Costanzo
Fullname:Richard Costanzo
Birth Date:17 February 1986
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Position:Defender
Collegeyears1:2004–2005
College1:Penn State Nittany Lions
Collegecaps1:21
Collegegoals1:4
Collegeyears2:2006–2008
College2:Maryland Terrapins
Collegecaps2:66
Collegegoals2:1
Years1:2009
Clubs1:Minnesota Thunder
Caps1:20
Goals1:1
Years2:2010–2011
Clubs2:Rochester Rhinos
Caps2:39
Goals2:4
Years3:2010–2011
Clubs3:Baltimore Blast (indoor)
Years4:2012–2013
Clubs4:Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Caps4:43
Goals4:3
Manageryears1:2022–
Managerclubs1:George Mason Patriots
Pcupdate:July 21, 2012

Richard "Rich" Costanzo (born February 17, 1986, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player who formerly played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the USL Professional Division. Costanzo is currently the head coach of George Mason.[1]

Career

Youth and high school

Costanzo attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh, where he was a two-time NSCAA/adidas All-American, a two-time regional All-American, and was twice named the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) Player of the Year.[2] In 2003, he was also named the NSCAA Pennsylvania State Player of the Year and chosen as an EA Sports All-American. He helped lead the Jaguars to the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) State Championship three times, winning the state title in 2002.[3]

Costanzo was selected to play for the Region I Olympic Development Program team from 2000 to 2005 and was a member of the U.S. U–18 National team player pool.[4]

He started his youth soccer in Pittsburgh for the Beadling Soccer Club, before joining FC Delco on the other side of the state.

College

Costanzo started college soccer at Pennsylvania State University where he was named the 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[5] He was also named Freshman All-America by Soccer America,[6] Top Draw Soccer,[7] and College Soccer News. He transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park to continue his collegiate career. He became a team captain for the Terps in the 2008 season, and helped lead the team to an ACC Championship and NCAA Division I National Championship.[8]

Professional

Having not been drafted by Major League Soccer Costanzo signed with Minnesota Thunder on February 26, 2009.[9] He made his professional debut on April 11, 2009, as a second-half substitute in Minnesota's 2009 season-opening game against the Carolina RailHawks.[10]

Costanzo was on the 2010–11 roster of the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, but appeared in no games.[11]

Honors

Rochester Rhinos
University of Maryland

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Mason Names Rich Costanzo Men's Soccer Head Coach. gomason.com. George Mason Athletics. April 29, 2022. May 6, 2022.
  2. http://www.pasoccercoaches.org/allamericaboys2003.html HS All-America 2003
  3. Web site: 2008 recruiting class . 2012-06-04 . 2016-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160827173010/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020404aaa.html . dead .
  4. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-18-mnt/2004/05/u-18-mnt-fall-to-river-plate-3-2-in-final-match-of-argentina-tour.aspx u18 National Team
  5. http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/111104aaa.html Big Ten Freshman of the Year
  6. http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020405aaa.html Soccer America Freshman All-America
  7. http://www.collegian.psu.edu:8080/archive/2005/02/02-07-05tdc/02-07-05dsports-12.asp All America Honors
  8. http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/121408aae.html 2008 National Championship
  9. http://soccer365.com/united_soccer_leagues/story_27209034459.php Thunder Land Dyachenko, Costanzo
  10. http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2009/1051801.html USL stats
  11. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=4407916&seasonid=6451 Baltimore Blast roster