John Carenza
Encyclopedia
John Carenza is a former U.S. soccer player who was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team
. He also spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League
.
in St. Louis, Missouri
in 1968. He is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. After high school, he attended SIU-E
where he played as a forward
on the men’s soccer team from 1968 to 1971. SIU-E had established its soccer program in 1967, but Carenza carried the team to national prominence. He still holds the career record for goals with 71 and is second on the career assists list with 29. Carenza earned second team All-American recognition in 1971. He was also a two time runner-up for the Hermann Trophy
. Carenza is a member of Who's Who Among Colleges & Universities and was a charter member of Sigma Pi Fraternity.
as it began the qualification process for the 1972 Summer Olympics
. He quickly made an impact on the team when he scored the U.S. goal in a 1-1 tie with El Salvador on July 18, 1971. He scored again in a 3-1 dismantling of Barbados in August. On January 23, 1972, he scored another significant goal when the U.S. tied Mexico in Mexico. He scored twice more, the last goal coming in the last qualification game, a 2-1 victory over Jamaica which clinched the first U.S. appearance at the Olympics in 1956. The actual games themselves were an anti-climax as the U.S. went 0-2-1. Despite Carenza’s success with the Olympic team, he was never selected for the full national team.
(NASL) selected Carenza in the first round of the College Draft. While he had made his reputation as a high scoring forward, the Stars also used him in defense. He spent four seasons with the Stars, playing in 52 games and scoring 5 goals.
United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
. He also spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
College
Carenza graduated from St. Mary’s High SchoolSt. Mary's High School (St. Louis, Missouri)
St. Mary’s High School is an all-boys' Catholic high school located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Mary’s High School serves young men in the Marianist tradition. - History :St...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1968. He is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. After high school, he attended SIU-E
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
where he played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
on the men’s soccer team from 1968 to 1971. SIU-E had established its soccer program in 1967, but Carenza carried the team to national prominence. He still holds the career record for goals with 71 and is second on the career assists list with 29. Carenza earned second team All-American recognition in 1971. He was also a two time runner-up for the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
. Carenza is a member of Who's Who Among Colleges & Universities and was a charter member of Sigma Pi Fraternity.
1972 Olympic Team
His collegiate success led to his selection to the U.S. Olympic soccer teamUnited States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
as it began the qualification process for the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. He quickly made an impact on the team when he scored the U.S. goal in a 1-1 tie with El Salvador on July 18, 1971. He scored again in a 3-1 dismantling of Barbados in August. On January 23, 1972, he scored another significant goal when the U.S. tied Mexico in Mexico. He scored twice more, the last goal coming in the last qualification game, a 2-1 victory over Jamaica which clinched the first U.S. appearance at the Olympics in 1956. The actual games themselves were an anti-climax as the U.S. went 0-2-1. Despite Carenza’s success with the Olympic team, he was never selected for the full national team.
NASL
In 1973, the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) selected Carenza in the first round of the College Draft. While he had made his reputation as a high scoring forward, the Stars also used him in defense. He spent four seasons with the Stars, playing in 52 games and scoring 5 goals.