On April 1, senior soccer player Luca Passucci announced his commitment to Muhlenberg College. A four-year varsity player and two-year captain of the team, Passucci was led to the school by alumni who thought it would be a good fit.
“Mid high school season, [I] got a phone call from a couple alumni who played at Muhlenberg from Scotch Plains, and they thought it could be a good place for me,” Passucci told The Fanscotian. “On my overnight, I felt comfortable with the team, felt comfortable with the coaches and the professors.”
Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Housing just over 2,000 undergraduate students, Muhlenmberg offers majors such as performing arts, business and marketing. Competing in the Centennial Conference at the Division III level, the Muhlenberg Mules face off against the likes of Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore.
The Mules have taken home the Centennial Conference Championship seven times in school history, most recently in 2022, along with constantly reaching the NCAA Tournament. Passucci hopes to make his mark on Muhlenberg soccer once he steps on campus, along with showing all what he has to offer.
“Starting over as a freshman again, I don’t have any of the continuity I’ve had now as a senior in high school, so I’m [looking forward to] just working hard, putting a name out there for myself and seeing where it takes me,” Passucci said.
Passucci was a force to be reckoned with during his time as a Raider, controlling the midfield while creating chances for his teammates upfield. His productivity on the field is evident through his statistics, as the midfielder tallied 11 assists and four goals throughout his senior season. A first team All Section, All Conference and All County member, Passucci filled his high school career with many different awards and achievements that are seldom achieved.
Being a part of a county and sectional championship team, Passucci has many memories that come to mind when thinking about playing at SPF. Throughout his senior season, Passucci led the Raiders through many intense games; however, one sticks out in his mind over the others.
“I don’t think I will ever forget the Friday Night Lights game, sectional finals with two top-five teams in the state, Scotch Plains and Westfield,” Passucci said. “The fence coming down after the first goal was scored, it’s a little hard to top that.”
Passucci competed under unique circumstances, with his father as head coach and his sophomore brother taking the field alongside him in his final two seasons. Although Passucci’s time as a Raider is over, he will miss all of the bonds he has made with his teammates and community members.
“I played with my brother, played under my dad,” Passucci said. “My mom got to watch all our games and I am so close to everyone who’s come through this program and has been on my team, so leaving them is definitely the biggest thing that I will miss.”
