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Hartford Athletic’s 2023 preseason training is officially underway and the club have finalized their preseason schedule. Hartford will play six preseason friendly matches both locally and at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The final preseason match on March 4th at 7:00 PM against New England Revolution II at Trinity Health Stadium will be the only match open to the public. Tickets for the match are available free of charge and must be claimed here. Tickets must be claimed in advance and will not be available at the box office. 

Prior to the team’s departure down South, the Green and Blue will kick start its preseason slate with a matchup against UConn on February 8th. They will follow this up with scrimmages against midfielder Johnathan Filipe’s alma mater Fairfield University, as well as Javier Velasco Soccer Academy (JVSA) of the UPSL, both on February 13th. The following day, Hartford will begin its 10 day trip in beautiful Bradenton, Florida, where they will train daily at the Premier Sports Complex. The club will be challenged by MLS side Columbus Crew in a scrimmage February 18th, and against Orlando City B of MLS Next on February 23rd. 

Following Hartford’s trip in Florida, the club will compete in one more preseason scrimmage against New England Revolution II at Trinity Health Stadium on March 4th, one week prior to the start of their first USL Championship match against Monterey Bay FC.

Hartford Athletic Preseason Schedule:

February 8 – vs. UCONN

February 13 – vs. Fairfield & JNSA 

February 18 – vs. Columbus Crew (tentative)

February 23 – vs. Orlando City B

March 4 – vs. New England Revolution II

Hartford Athletic have signed midfielder Beverly Makangila, pending league and federation approval. Makangila joins Triston Hodge and Elvis Amoh as the third player from the 2022 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC roster to sign with Hartford Athletic ahead of the 2023 season.

“I want to thank Coach Ramos and Hartford Athletic for this opportunity,” said Makangila. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of this club and I can’t wait to get started. It is going to be a fun year in Hartford.”

Makangila, a central midfielder, made 27 appearances, logged 1,544 minutes, and recorded an assist throughout the 2022 campaign. He was acquired by Colorado Springs on permanent transfer from MFK Vyskov in the Czech Republic. 

“Beverly is a special talent,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He is young, skillful and has great capacity for covering ground and winning the ball back. I believe the best soccer is ahead of him and that he has a very high ceiling. He is an excellent addition to the center of our midfield.”

The Kinshasa, Congo native entered American soccer with San Diego Loyal on loan from MFK Vyskov in 2020, where he appeared in six USL Championship games for Landon Donovan’s side. Prior to coming to the United States, Makangila played for FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo in Linafoot, the top soccer division in DR Congo. 

“Beverly is a very good number six,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “He is young and developing, but will help us on a variety of levels. He has a winning mentality and we are excited to have him join the Hartford Athletic Family.”  

Hartford Athletic have signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Joel Quist, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Beverley Makangila, Conor McGlynn, 

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Luke Merrill, Kaveh Rad, Matt Sheldon, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Joe Rice, Richard Sanchez

Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th at 2 PM against Birmingham Legion FC are available now. Visit hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase today, or guarantee your seat for every home game by purchasing season tickets! Visit hartfordathletic.com/seasontickets/ for more information.

Dear Fans,

I’m fired up for this season. Pre-season kicks off tomorrow and we have one goal in mind…winning. Below are a few highlights from last year, made possible by our amazing fans and incredible partners. We invested in the best staff in US professional soccer including the hiring of: 

• Tab Ramos, US Men’s National Team Legend as our head coach
• Ray Reid, four time national champion head coach as our Technical director
• Omid Namazi, former US National team U18 and U20 coach as first assistant and head scout 
• Dan Gaspar, former National team coach for Portugal, Iran and Benfica as our Goalie coach

We averaged over 5,000 fans per game and sold out our last five games of the year. We also set club records for viewership on MyTV9 and ESPN Plus and had 142k viewers tune in for our first ever nationally broadcast game on ESPN (more than many MLS broadcasts). 

Our Green and Blue Foundation made a significant impact in our community. With the help of our Founding Partners Trinity Health of New England, Stanley Black and Decker, Travelers and The Hartford as well as our 55 corporate partners and 50 business Alliance partners we achieved the following impact:

• Raised $17k for Grace Academy of Hartford as part of our fourth annual Match for a Cause
• Provided 15,000 tickets to children in underserved communities through our Community Ticket Program
• Hosted our first annual Stem & Soccer Education Day in front of 1500 students
• Donated over 2000 pounds of food to CT Foodshare through our Goals for Meals program
• Packed 1000 Period Poverty Totes in conjunction with Dignity Grows
• Created Story Walk, a $100,000 interactive storybook experience in Colt Park
• Welcomed more than 800 job seekers and 115 employers to Trinity Health Stadium for our annual Hartford Athletic Hiring Expo
• Donated 200 winter jackets to Button Up CT

Our partnership with Trinity Health of New England continued to grow as we announced a historic stadium naming rights partnership in March. Trinity Health Stadium, as it is now known, saw several upgrades last season including a new video board and augmented hospitality locations.

On the player front, Tab and Ray have re-signed Danny Barrera, Andre Lewis, Jeciel Cedeno, Robin Lapert, Conor McGlynn, Prince Saydee, Ash Apollon and Tulu. They have also added key pieces to make our championship run including two league stars in Elvis Amoh, who scored 26 goals in his last two seasons in the USL Championship, and Antoine Hoppenot, who led the league with 12 assists last year. 

There are many other exciting additions to this year’s team, including two defensive-minded left-footers with postseason experience in Triston Hodge and Niall Logue who played last season for Colorado Springs and Memphis respectively, as well as Kaveh Rad, a talented young player from MLS side Sporting Kansas City, and Matt Sheldon who has spent the last three years in the USL Championship. Forward Kyle Edwards comes to Hartford after spending some time in the MLS for the Houston Dynamo and midfielder Kembo Kibato adds speed and quality to our midfield. Our new goalkeepers, Richard Sánchez and Joe Rice, are incredible shot stoppers and bring experience from many MLS clubs. Luke Merrill earned his spot on the roster at our invitational combine and Jonathan Filipe and Joel Quist became the fourth and fifth players in club history to make the roster out of Open Tryouts.

NEWS FLASH:  We will be making one other significant addition to our club – a new mascot! There will be a “name the mascot” contest happening soon. Stay tuned to our social media channels and emails for details on how to submit your favorite name.

The 2023 schedule is now available at hartfordathletic.com/schedule. We will host seventeen USL Championship matches and hope to add games in the US Open Cup and international friendlies as well. As we continue to build momentum, we would love for you to show your support to the new coaching staff and players by buying your tickets early and continuing to spread the word about Hartford Athletic.

Season Ticket Memberships come with some amazing new perks (e.g. cut the line for concessions, preferred parking, discounts and more) in addition to savings on single game ticket prices and the pride of saying you’re a Season Ticket Member. Please visit hartfordathletic.com/seasontickets or call 860-298-9233 for more information.

This is going to be a season to remember. We can’t wait to see you at our home opener on March 25^th and throughout the season. As always, if you have feedback, questions, or just want to drop a note of encouragement for the squad feel free to email me at brucem@hartfordathletic.com or text or call me at 860-883-1028.

Warmest Regards,

Bruce Mandell

Chairman, Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic have signed defender Matt Sheldon ahead of the 2023 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“I’m thrilled to come to Hartford,” said Sheldon. “Playing at Trinity Health Stadium last year, I know that Hartford has built up a loyal group of supporters and a passionate soccer community. This is a great roster of players who I cannot wait to compete with. Coach Ramos has a clear vision for this group and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Sheldon comes to Hartford after a season with Charleston Battery. The 30 year old made 27 starts and played 2,325 minutes during the 2022 campaign. A defender who frequently looks to distribute from outside areas, Sheldon led Charleston in crosses with 65 and recorded two assists. One of his helpers came against Hartford Athletic on July 16th, when he pin-pointed a pass across the box to an open Augustine Williams.

“Matt is an important addition to our back line,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “His defensive qualities, ability on the ball and desire to make the effort to attack make him a great fit for our system of play.”

Over six USL Championship seasons with four different teams, Sheldon has made 123 total appearances and logged over 8,000 minutes. Prior to joining Charleston in 2022, he spent three seasons from 2019 to 2021 with FC Tulsa. He played a major role in their defense, swiping 48 interceptions, making 40 tackles, and winning 182 duels across 65 starts.

“Matt provides us with an experienced right sided wide player,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “His ability to attack and play in the final third is something we need to have for the way we want to play. We are excited for what he adds to the club.”

Outside of the United States, Sheldon has made stints with German club SG Kinzenbach New Zealand club Waterside Karori AFC. A native of Portland, Oregon, Sheldon stayed out west to play collegiately at UC Davis from 2011 to 2014. He made 81 appearances over four years, scored 15 goals, and recorded seven assists.

Hartford Athletic have signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Joel Quist, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn, 

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Luke Merrill, Kaveh Rad, Matt Sheldon, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Joe Rice, Richard Sanchez

Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th at 2 PM against Birmingham Legion FC are available now. Visit hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase today.

Hartford Athletic have signed defender Luke Merrill, pending league and federation approval. Merrill was offered his first professional contract after attending the club’s invitational combine earlier this month.

“It’s a special moment for me to sign my first professional contract with Hartford Athletic,” said Merrill. “I’ve worked hard to get to this spot in my career, and I cannot wait to begin this new chapter in Hartford. I’d like to thank Coach Ramos and the rest of the technical staff for believing in me, and I’m excited to begin the 2023 season with my teammates.”

Merrill comes to Hartford after finishing his senior season at Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah) in October 2022. Over two seasons with the Griffins, Merrill played in 31 games, scored 10 goals, and recorded three assists.

“Luke is a young player with tremendous high-energy,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He’s excellent technically and can play in multiple positions. We are excited that he has chosen to join us.”

A native of Layton, Utah, Merrill began his collegiate career at Salt Lake Community College. He recorded seven assists across two seasons for the Bruins, and earned All-Region 18 Second Team honors in 2019.

“Luke is a young player with potential,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “I think under Tab’s tutelage, he will develop and grow as a player. We are excited that he is joining the Hartford Athletic family.”

Hartford Athletic have signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Joel Quist, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn, 

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Luke Merrill, Kaveh Rad, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Joe Rice, Richard Sanchez

More player announcements will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th against Birmingham Legion FC are available now at hartfordathletic.com/single.

Hartford Athletic have signed forward Joel Quist, pending league and federation approval. Quist earned the contract after impressive showings at the club’s open tryouts and Invitational Combine.

“I’m proud to sign my first professional contract with Hartford Athletic,” said Quist. “I want to thank Coach Ramos and the entire technical staff for giving me this opportunity and believing in my abilities. I’ve spent my entire life dreaming of this moment and I am excited to take on the challenge of playing at the professional level.”

Quist joins Jonathan Filipe as the second player from this year’s open tryouts to sign a pro contract, and is the fifth player in five seasons to sign after attending open tryouts. The Old Bridge, New Jersey native comes to Hartford after spending two seasons with FA Euro New York of USL League Two, where he played seven games and 479 minutes. The Brooklyn-based club is the former home of Hartford’s own Conor McGlynn, who also earned a contract with the club through open tryouts in 2020. 

“Joel made a strong impression on us at our open tryouts,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He is a smart player, can get behind the defense with speed and is excellent in front of goal. He’s a quality young player and we’re excited to see what he can do for us.”

This fall, Quist spent time with New Jersey club Jackson Lions FC of the NPSL. The 23 year old played 10 games, scored seven goals, and recorded two assists. 

“Joel was very impressive at our combine,” said Technical Director Ray Reid.”He is a hard worker with potential. He plays as a target player, and we are excited about where his development will take him. I think we may have found a diamond in the rough.” 

Collegiately, Quist played at Georgian Court University. Over a successful four year career, Quist made 66 appearances, scored 12 goals, and recorded eight assists.  

Hartford Athletic has signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Joel Quist, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Kaveh Rad, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Joe Rice, Richard Sanchez

More player announcements will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th against Birmingham Legion FC are available now at hartfordathletic.com/single.

Hartford Athletic have signed goalkeeper Joe Rice, pending league and federation approval. Rice joins Richard Sánchez as the second goalkeeper on Hartford’s 2023 roster.

“I wanted to put myself in the most competitive environment this year and with the roster that Coach Ramos is assembling here in Hartford, you can feel that this group is going to be special,” said Rice. “Getting to work with high level pros and coaches, there’s nothing but success to be had here with the right mentality and work ethic.”

Rice comes to Hartford Athletic after spending the majority of the 2022 season with Loudoun United FC and being loaned to Detroit City FC in September. Across five starts with Loudoun, the 26 year old made 20 saves and posted a 1.99 GAA. He won USL Championship Save of the Week honors in Week 11 for denying a breakaway chance from Golden Boot runner up Phillip Goodrum (Memphis 901 FC).

“Joe is another excellent addition to our roster,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He is a hard worker and has shown his ability at the professional level with his many highlight-reel saves. I’m looking forward to having a strong goalkeeper group.”

Rice began his professional career in 2019 when he signed a contract with the Richmond Kickers of USL League One. He signed with New England Revolution II in 2020, making nine appearances and winning the League One Save of the Year at season’s end. The six-foot-four-inch goalkeeper made a miraculous save in a match against Forward Madison on September 4, 2020, batting a floating header over the crossbar just inches before it crossed the goal line. Rice was announced as a returning player as the Revolution II made the jump to MLS Next Pro ahead of the 2021 season. In total, he made 29 appearances over two seasons for New England Revolution II.

“We are happy that Joe has joined our club,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “He is an experienced goalkeeper. We are excited about watching him compete at Hartford Athletic and he will continue to develop under Dan Gaspar.”

A Fairfax, Virginia native, Rice played collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University and appeared in six matches for the VCU Rams. He spent a year as a redshirt player and his tenure lasted from 2014-2018. While he was studying at VCU, he played in the National Premier Soccer League locally for Chesterfield United FC and Virginia Beach City FC.

Hartford Athletic has signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Kaveh Rad, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Joe Rice, Richard Sanchez

More player announcements will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th against Birmingham Legion FC are available now at hartfordathletic.com/single.

Hartford Athletic have signed defender Kaveh Rad, pending league and federation approval. Rad becomes the eighteenth player signed for the 2023 season.

“Hartford Athletic is a great fit for me,” said Rad. “Coach Ramos is building a culture of winning and I want to help establish that here. His pedigree and international experience in this game are second to none and I look forward to learning from him and the rest of the technical staff this year.”

The 21 year old comes to Hartford Athletic in the midst of a bright professional career. Rad signed a homegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City in April of 2021, and made his MLS debut on May 1st during a regular season match against Real Salt Lake at just 19 years old. The defenseman put together a notable performance in his second MLS start, completing 92.3% of his passes in a 3–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. 

“Kaveh is a young player, but already has experience at the highest level in this country,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He is very good in the air. Additionally, he is a tough competitor with excellent technical quality who can find short passes in between lines to our central players or find our wingers on diagonal balls.”

The Durham, North Carolina native, moved to Kansas City in 2016 where he began his journey up through the club’s academy ranks. He signed an academy contract in 2018 while playing for Swope Park Rangers, the former Sporting Kansas City affiliate club. After making an appearance in 2018, Rad became a regular in 2019 for the Rangers and started all but two games for the USL Championship side in the pandemic shortened 2020 season. In 2021 on loan from the first team, he earned Team of the Week honors for a stellar performance in a 4-1 win over FC Tulsa in which he scored a goal, booted seven clearances, and made 14 recoveries. 

“Kaveh is a good young player and his time spent at Sporting KC is extremely valuable,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “He is eager to learn, places an emphasis on defending and adds to the center backs at Hartford Athletic. We are thrilled to have him in our locker room!”

Hartford Athletic has signed the following players for the 2023 season:

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Kaveh Rad, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Richard Sanchez

More player announcements will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for Hartford’s home opener on March 25th against Birmingham Legion FC are available now at hartfordathletic.com/single.

Hartford Athletic have signed Danbury native and former Fairfield University midfielder Jonathan Filipe, pending league and federation approval. Filipe was offered a contract after attending open tryouts in December.

“It’s really exciting for me to sign with my hometown club,” said Filipe. “I have a lot of support here in Connecticut, and I am excited to be able to play in front of my family and friends each week. I want to thank Coach Ramos for the opportunity, and I look forward to being a part of Hartford Athletic in 2023.”

Filipe becomes the fourth player in five seasons to earn a contract from open tryouts, joining fellow midfielder Conor McGlynn, who will start his fourth season with the club in February. Filipe is one of four players who advanced from open tryouts with three other players, Duga Dambelly, Joel Quist, and Evan Southern, receiving invites to the club’s invitational combine which took place on January 9th and 10th.

Filipe made his professional debut with New York Red Bulls II last season in the USL Championship. The 23 year old saw consistent playing time, making 21 starts in 31 appearances and totaled over 2,000 minutes. Filipe scored two goals in a thrilling match against Hartford Athletic at MSU Soccer Park on August 31, which ended in a 3-3 tie. 

“Jonathan is a talented young player,” said Head Coach Tab Ramos. “He is comfortable playing in between lines and can be dangerous with his ability to pass or by finding his own shot. He is a good addition to this roster with lots of potential.”

Filipe played collegiately at Fairfield University, where he played for four years. Over 59 matches and 4,546 minutes, he scored 19 goals and tallied nine assists. Filipe earned a spot on the All-MAAC Rookie team his freshman year, and received All-MAAC second team honors his senior year. The youngster has a knack for finding the back of the net when it matters most, with six game-winning goals scored in his collegiate career.

“Jonathan really impressed us at our open tryouts,” said Technical Director Ray Reid. “It is great to be able to sign a player who is from Connecticut. He has a great engine and will help our team.”

Filipe emerged through the New York Red Bulls Academy as a youth player. He played for the Under-23 squad during the 2021 USL League Two season, where he scored four goals and collected two assists in eight matches.

Forwards: Elvis Amoh, Jeciel Cedeño, Kyle Edwards, Antoine Hoppenot, Prince Saydee

Midfielders: Danny Barrera, Jonathan Filipe, Kembo Kibato, Andre Lewis, Conor McGlynn

Defenders: Ash Apollon, Triston Hodge, Robin Lapert, Niall Logue, Tulu

Goalkeepers: Richard Sanchez

More player announcements will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for Hartford’s home opener are available now at hartfordathletic.com/single.