SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Antonino and Francesco Pagano are two of the most accomplished and decorated high school soccer players to come through upstate New York in some time. But to Coach Jeff Hammond, former head soccer coach at powerhouse Fayetteville-Manlius, they are simply Nino and Cheech, two brothers with an intense love for soccer and each other.
“They bring a level of competitiveness that is contagious,” Hammond said. “So, when they’re on the field together, they don’t pull punches. They go after each other, they push each other, they yell at each other, and they can do that to one another, but God forbid anybody does anything to either one of them.”
That competitiveness has produced some great moments for both Pagano brothers. Francesco was named CNY Soccer Player of the Year as both a junior and a senior, while Antonino was recently named a finalist for USA Today’s High School National Soccer Player of the Year, and he just completed a senior season where he scored more goals individually than the rest of the teams in F-M’s district combined.
The brothers have been successful at every soccer level they’ve encountered. However, the ACC, one of the best collegiate conferences in America for soccer, will be a steep learning curve for Nino, especially after watching his older brother Cheech start only one game for the Orange last year. Coach Hammond says Antonino is ready for the challenge.
“I have spoken with Nino and his attitude is, ‘I’m just going to do whatever it takes to get on the field.’ His expectations are realistic and I think Cheech’s frustration this past fall, and Nino having to see him every day and talk to him, they understand what they need to do to get on the field.”
Ultimately, Nino’s freshman season will be less about how many goals and assists he has for SU, and more about reuniting with his brother after a year-long hiatus. If they can rekindle some of their brother synergy that worked so well at F-M, the world of ACC soccer may be in double trouble.
