Not only are there live sports actually happening in Connecticut, but fans are able to be there in person to watch! Hartford Athletic embarks on its second season in the USL Championship, the second-tier of American soccer behind MLS, with Dillon Stadium open for fans, albeit at limited capacity. About 1,375 people watched the squad come from behind to beat Philadelphia over the weekend, continuing the team's excellent start. After going just 8-21-5 in its inaugural season of 2019, Hartford Athletic is off to a 3-0-0 start to this year, having scored seven times in three games (2019 average: 1.44/game) while conceding just three times (2019 average: 2.35/game, second-worst in USL).
Still a young organization in a lesser-known league, you might be unfamiliar with the team under first-year head coach Radhi Jaidi. Here are some of the notable names, including some with local ties, that you should know if you want to start getting into the local pro scene:
Danny Barrera: Originally from Colombia, Barrera came to the United States when he was eight and became a highly decorated high school star, before going on to a successful collegiate career at UC-Santa Barbara. He starts his second season with the club, last year tying for the team lead with four assists despite making just 17 appearances, while also tallying three goals. He's nearly matched that distribution this year, notching three assists through the first three games.
Nicky Downs: The midfielder has appeared in all three games this season, starting one, and has made 26 appearances overall for Hartford Athletic. The Lakeville native was a two-time all-state selection out of The Hotchkiss School before playing collegiately at Yale, where he was a three-time All-Ivy League selection. After spending 2018 in USL League Two with Black Rock FC in Massachusetts, he returned to his native Connecticut last year.
Ever Guzman: The 32-year-old enters his first season in Hartford after three years with San Antonio FC, where he scored 23 goals and left as the franchise's all-time leading scorer. He's off to a quick start in 2020, netting a pair of goals through the first three games. The Mexico native is best known for his performance in the U-17 World Cup in 2005, when he scored four goals (second only to Carlos Vela of Real Sociedad and MLS fame) in leading Mexico to the title.
Tyreke Johnson: It's rare that someone with Premier League aspirations plays in USL, but that's the case with Johnson, on loan to Hartford from English side Southampton. The 21-year-old has made just three appearances with his parent club, coming on as a sub in a 2018 win over Arsenal, plus playing in a pair of FA Cup ties. With Hartford he's played in all three games, starting two, and collected a beautiful goal in the 3-1 victory over Loudoun United.
Mads Jorgensen: The Denmark native is one of the 2019 mainstays still on the roster for 2020. The midfielder started 23 games last year and was second on the team in minutes before a knee injury ended his season prematurely. So far this year he's started two of the three games in which he's played, scoring a firecracker of a goal from about 30 yards out in Saturday's win over Philadelphia.
Parfait Mandanda: The Frenchman is the first-choice goalkeeper it appears, having started all three games thus far. On loan from Belgian top-flight side Charleroi, the 30-year-old spent his youth career with Bordeaux, a notable French Ligue 1 team, before moving to Belgium in 2011. Playing internationally for Congo DR, he's made 17 appearances in goal. His brother, Steve, plays for Marseilles domestically and France internationally, where he was on the roster for the 2018 World Cup victory.
Kevin Politz: Originally from New Haven, the defender grew up in New Jersey before playing at Wake Forest, where he was the 2017 ACC Defender of the Year. He signed a pro contract with the New York Red Bulls in 2018, but was released after the season. After spending last season with the Greenville Triumph, he joins Hartford Athletic and has started all three games.
Alfonso Vazquez: He's one of the youngest players on the roster, turning 18 and graduating from Windham High School last month, and his professional career is just beginning. The three-time all-state honoree is Connecticut's all-time leading high school goal scorer, collecting 149 goals over four years and breaking the state record that stood for 31 years. He signed his first pro contract in March with Hartford Athletic, and made his debut late in Saturday's victory over Philadelphia.