Eastern Connecticut State University

Eugene P. Vostinak was the undisputed “anchor” of outstanding defensive units for the men’s soccer program in the mid-to-late 1960s. Referred to by the local media as one of the “forgotten men” who was overshadowed by dominant offensive teams, Vostinak and his defensive teammates allowed opponents a grand total of 51 goals in 58 games (0.88 per game) between 1966 and 1969. In those “glory years” of men’s soccer, the Warriors ruled New England by losing only two of 44 regular-season matches, and posting consecutive undefeated (23-0-1) regular seasons on the way to back-to-back NAIA New England championships in 1968 and 1969. A native of nearby Ashford, Vostinak was a driving force at center fullback as a four-year starter who missed only two matches in his career. While orchestrating the Eastern defense in front of three different regular keepers in four years, Vostinak’s contributions were immense as the Warriors posted 25 shutouts in 58 games and allowed more than one goal in a match only 12 times. Twice in a season during Vostinak’s career (1967 and 69), the defense recorded five straight shutouts. The 1969 squad shut out ten of its 18 opponents, limiting 12 regular-season opponents to just six goals and 18 opponents to only 11 goals in the entire season. In four NAIA New England tournament games in Vostinak’s final two years, the Warriors applied the clamps to opponents, allowing a total of only one goal.