On April 9, senior goalkeeper and Fanscotian Image Editor Nikos Zoganas announced his commitment to Salve Regina University. A two-year varsity team member, Zoganas felt a connection to school after visiting and seeing the campus.
“Being by the shore and just the location of Newport really stood out to me when I visited campus,” Zoganas told The Fanscotian.
Founded in 1934, Salve Regina University is a private Roman Catholic institution located in Newport, Rhode Island. The campus runs along the coastline, providing scenic views while surrounded by history in Newport. The school houses just over 2,000 undergraduate students and competes athletically at the Division III level.
The Salve Regina Seahawks play in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) against the likes of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US Coast Guard Academy and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Seahawks are a top program year in and year out in the NEWMAC, and most recently made it to the conference championship in 2024.
“[Salve Regina] is a great program and in a great conference, and [Newport] is a beautiful location,” Zoganas said.
Zoganas was a member of the SPF boys varsity soccer team for his junior and senior season, where he was a part of championship winning teams both years. Zoganas and the Raiders won two Union County Championships and two sectional titles in 2024 and 2025, accumulating a strong record of 38-5-4.
“My favorite memory of high school soccer was beating Westfield 3-0 in the sectional finals at home,” Zoganas said. “It was electric.”
Zoganas plays in the offseason with two separate clubs: Ironbound Soccer Club and FC Motown. He has spent the past three years playing with Ironbound Soccer Club, traveling to states like Virginia and Florida to compete against top tier clubs around the country.
“We qualified for the national tournament, and we have traveled all over,” Zoganas said. “It is a great team and club that really prioritizes the players.”
In the summer, Zoganas plays with FC Motown STA at the U23 level, where he has the chance to face off against older and more experienced players. FC Motown STA is a professional club based out of Morristown fielding teams in the National Premier Soccer League and USL League Two. Playing on the U23 team has given Zoganas the opportunity to play against higher-level competition while still in high school.
“Playing with adults has really shaped me and helped me as a player,” Zoganas said.
Once Zoganas steps onto campus in Newport this summer, he hopes to make his mark on the program in his four years of collegiate soccer.
“I am looking forward to trying to maximize my experience by bonding with guys on the team and also playing at a high level as much as I can,” Zoganas said.
