Rick Kessel

Soccer
Goalkeeper
(1975-78)

Inducted 1992

Rick Kessel did more than just stop shots for the University of New Haven soccer team.  Kessel was a driving force behind the Chargers’ advancement to the 1976 NCAA Championship Game and to the 1977 NCAA Semi-finals.  Kessel posted seven shutouts in 1976, two more in the NCAA playoffs, and three in each of his final two seasons.  Kessel’s leadership and ability to come up with big plays often while playing injured was a major contributing factor to the team’s success and to the development of its strong following.  Kessel helped the Chargers earn four bids to the NCAA tournament and post a 48-13-10 record during his career.  He registered 297 saves in four seasons which included a career-high 116 stops in 1976.  He owned a career 1.05 goals against average, including three seasons in which he allowed less than one goal per game.