Panunto commits to Daemen
Daemen University in Amherst, N.Y., is the perfect place for Marco Panunto to continue his soccer journey.
The Grade 12 student at Saint Michael recently committed to play NCAA Division 2 soccer with the Daemen University Wildcats in the East Coast Conference.
“I really wanted to be close to home. I love living in my house and my family is close to me,” the 18-year-old Niagara Falls resident said. “I believe that I will always want my family close to me and I don’t want to move far away. I’m not too much of a live alone guy and I want to be as close to my parents as I can.”
Panunto started talking to Daemen in January 2023 when he began the process of sending out emails to schools.
“They responded instantly and from that point we have been constantly talking back and forth. I have been sending them highlights, film and they came to watch me. About a month ago, they send me the commitment letter and I committed.”
It was an easy choice to make.
“I thought the school was really good and when I went to visit it I liked it. Obviously they have one of the best physiotherapy programs in New York State, it’s close to home and they gave me a school/soccer offer.”
He can’t wait to get started.
“I want to experience soccer with a fun team and a good group of guys, but I also want to get my education and my school right. I want to graduate and become a chiropractor. It is going to be fresh: new life; new friends, new people; and, new everything.”
His goals for his first season are modest.
“As a freshman, I know I am not going to play a lot because that’s how most freshman are most everywhere. I am going to train as hard as I can and if I get some minutes that will be great but my goal is to get adapted to university, test the waters and become comfortable with my surroundings.”
Panunto started playing soccer when he was four and graduated to travel soccer with Niagara United and Niagara Falls FC before playing the last eight seasons with Rochester NY FC MLS NEXT, formerly Empire United.
“Playing with them gave me the opportunity to play with Daemen,” he said.
Saint Michael head coach Pat Ricci isn’t surprised to see him land a NCAA soccer scholarship.
“I kind of figured all along that he would be playing post secondary soccer somewhere whether it be in Canada or the United States. Marco has always given me the impression that soccer is No. 1 for him. It’s a passion and a lifestyle and it is shared amongst his family members as well. His parents are truly invested in him as well and that’s why they brought him to the States for exposure.”
Marco played outside midfielder for the Mustangs on both the left and right side.
“His strengths are that he has a really nice first touch and he knows how to go on the attack. He creates space on his own,” Ricci said.
He feels the biggest progression Panunto has made in his game is his maturity.
“He gets it. He gets what it is going to take behind the scenes and academically. He thrives in the classroom and he realizes it is not just one thing, one team, one coach or one player. The whole idea of pursuing soccer at the post secondary level embodies a lot of different things and he has shown me over the years that he has a great level of maturity which goes hand and hand with the output. He made high school soccer very important to himself and I value that in my guys more than anything.”
The next step in his progression will be adapting to a new environment.
“Marco is going to learn when he is somewhere where he is not comfortable with his surroundings, he is going to have to take some things on the chin,” Ricci said. “He might have to work a little harder on the defensive end or go in on some 50/50 balls a little more aggressively. I know he will do well with that and he will have to be willing to take advice from a new coach. As you approach these higher levels and you want to succeed and contribute, you have to change some things about who you are and your game.”
