Southampton native Johnny Ciarlante receives MVP during his final year playing soccer at La Salle
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Johnny Ciarlante can do it all.
From football and basketball, to track and bowling…you name it, he’s probably tried it. Most recently, the Southampton native and La Salle University senior was named MVP of the Explorers soccer team, a much-deserved honor after four years of hard work (and record number of face stitches). But despite this recognition, Ciarlante remains the definition of humble and a true team player.
To see Ciarlante on the field today, it’s clear his passion for sports didn’t occur overnight. Rather, it’s been almost a lifetime in the making. He was introduced to athletics while in kindergarten thanks to his parents, who gave him the opportunity to play every sport of interest to him.
“They wanted to see what I could excel in,” he said.
By the time Ciarlante began high school at William Tennent, he had mastered basketball, track, football and soccer — and decided to pursue them all. When he wasn’t in class or doing homework, the young athlete’s life was consumed by sports as he traveled from one practice to the next, many of which took place during the evenings.
Ciarlante’s schedule was certainly hectic, but he loved every second of it as he continued to improve and hone his skills in each respective game. His practices were also where he built some of his strongest friendships, so the long hours rarely ever felt like a chore.
When it came time for Ciarlante to start the lengthy process of selecting a college, he narrowed his search to include schools with excellent soccer teams. He still enjoyed basketball and football, but his time spent playing throughout high school helped him determine which sport was his favorite. With a college workload, continuing to play all four would’ve been impractical and physically impossible.
After much thought, La Salle University was his final selection. Not only did the school have a great team, but he’d be able to stay local and have his supportive parents watching from the stands.
Ciarlante joined the Explorers soccer team his freshman year and kicked things off with a bang. A rare opportunity for many freshman players, he was in the starting lineup by his third game and started every game since.
Throughout his time as an Explorer, Ciarlante experienced countless highlights and successes as both an individual player and part of the team as a whole, but a select few will always stand out in his memory. As a freshman, during one game, he was the first out of both teams to score.
During another match, only 12 minutes in, Ciarlante was kicked in the face and, as a result, needed 15 stitches. He nonchalantly explained how, to date, he’s received a total of 42 stitches, including 19 in a single eyebrow. Though kicks to the face are never pleasant, Ciarlante still considers each wound a “highlight” of his soccer career — injuries, even minor ones, are an almost unavoidable part of the athletic territory.
Though the Explorers didn’t have the best season this year, they ended things on a high note on Nov. 1 with a 2–0 shutout win over Davidson College. According to an Explorers recap, both goals were scored in the second half of the game. Senior Ryan Nork scored his first goal of the season just a few minutes into the frame, with Ciarlante assisting in the play.
After the season was over, a banquet was held for the team, during which Ciarlante received MVP. For him, it was an honor to be recognized individually for his efforts, but he understands his success would’ve been impossible without solid teammates by his side.
“It felt good,” he said. “But I’m a team player when it comes to that stuff.”
As Ciarlante sets out to enjoy a much-needed holiday break, he’s beginning to think about what comes next after his final semester at La Salle. While he still enjoys soccer and sports as a whole, he admitted his years of nonstop athletics have taken a toll on his body. If a professional opportunity happens to present itself, he will certainly take advantage of it. But until then, some time spent in the workforce and casually playing in his own backyard of Southampton may just be what the doctor ordered. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
