Casey Ftorek was a difference-maker all season for the men's soccer team at Middlebury College in Vermont. And in the recent NCAA Division 3 tournament, the Needham native put his best foot forward to power the Panthers to their first national championship.
Ftorek netted the leadoff goal of a penalty-kick shootout in Sunday's final against Trinity College of Texas, setting the tone for Middlebury in its victory (4-3, on kicks).
Middlebury also defeated Loras College of Iowa in the semifinals via the shootout, and ended its great run with 623 minutes of scoreless defense, including five shutouts in as many NCAA tourney games and six consecutive overall.
In addition to his shootout strike, the 5-foot-9-inch, 175-pound Ftorek set a program single-season scoring record with 17 goals - nine of them game-winners - and 39 points, earning the nickname "Mr. November" after scoring six goals (plus an assist) in five postseason games.
"When a goal was needed, Casey scored," said Middlebury men's soccer head coach David Saward, whose 18-2-2 team set a school record for victories and shutouts, with 17. This fall was the first time the Middlebury men's soccer team reached the national semifinals, let alone win the NCAA title.
"He is the best striker I have ever seen at this level. No matter what had happened at the Final Four, Casey's legacy was going to be very hard to live up to."
A transfer last year from Union College in New York, Ftorek registered 30 goals and 73 points in two seasons to rank fourth in both career categories at Middlebury, which also won the New England Small College Athletic Conference championship this fall.
Ftorek, who attended the Taft School in Connecticut and now lives in Wolfeboro, N.H., grew up in Needham, where his father, Robbie, attained legendary status as a high school hockey player. He then embarked on a long pro career as a player and coach, and is the head coach of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
With soccer season over, Casey will lace up his skates and rejoin Middlebury's eight-time NCAA champion men's hockey team. A forward, he had three goals and four assists in 17 games last season.
One of his hockey teammates is junior goalie Doug Raeder, son of Cap Raeder, who guarded the net while helping the elder Ftorek propel Needham High to back-to-back state hockey titles in 1969 and 1970. Doug Raeder had appeared in two games this season, posting a 1-1 record.
