From the staff report
The Rhode Island Community College men's soccer team will host an information session on Friday, July 12th from 4:30 to 5:30 pm for freshman and returning student-athletes interested in joining the program this summer.
Tryouts for the 2024 season will begin on August 9th. The information session is designed for enrolled students who are interested in playing football at CCRI. Coaches will answer questions and provide information on what is needed for tryouts, which courses to enroll in, and detailed instructions for completing the required student-athlete packet. All students interested in playing football in the fall are welcome to attend.
Under the guidance of head coach Gabe Toro, who will enter his 16th season this fall as the school's longest-tenured coach, the Knights are looking to finish the 2023 season strong.
After winning the NJCAA Division III Region XXI Championship in 2022 and qualifying for the NJCAA Boys Soccer Championship for the first time in school history, the Knights finished the season with five wins, seven losses and two ties in 2023, but played their best football in October, winning two of their final three regular season games to close out the year and qualify for the regional tournament.
CCRI won its second consecutive postseason victory with a win over Springfield Tech in the Region XXI quarterfinals before losing to eventual region champion Northern Essex in the semifinals. Six of the seven scorers on the 2023 team were freshmen, including Sebastian Velez (North Providence, RI), who was named First Team All-Region XXI, and Chad Parente (Bristol, RI), Ryan Paiva (Riverside, RI) and Andrew Jackson (Rumford, RI), who were named All-Region XXI Honorable Mention.
Since taking over the program in 2009, Toro has won 72 matches, captured the District 21 championship and led CCRI to its first national tournament, while also earning the 2022 Northeast Regional Coach of the Year award.
