UDC Men’s Soccer Alum Gabriel Torres Signs Pro Contract with Hartford Athletic
Hartford, Conn.- The University of the District of Columbia's Men's Soccer team Alum, Gabriel Torres, signed a professional contract with Hartford Athletic for the 2020 season.
Torres (Salvador, Brazil), joined the UDC men's soccer team as a midfielder/defender in 2016. He went on to help lead his team to the programs first ever ECC Championship tournament, and NCAA Division II tournament appearance. Torres finished the season with numerous accolades including the East Coast Conference Offensive player of the year, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District and East Region Player of the Year. He was the first men's soccer student-athlete to earn an All-American title and was the school's first male All-American since 1989.
"Thanks be to God for giving me the strength to keep trying when the dream to become a professional player seemed far away," said Torres. "He taught me to be patient and to trust his will. It's a very special moment, and UDC is a part of this. I thank the soccer program, the school and the athletic department that believed in me and always provided me the very best, so I could become a better player and most importantly a better human being."
Head Coach Matthew Thompson have now coached three players including Torres who went on to play at a professional level. Jeremy Deighton and Greg Blum who he coached when he was at Slipper Rocky both went on to play for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and now Gabriel Torres for Hartford Athletic.