Macca is WNE-Bound

RHAM senior Andrew Macca officially committed to player soccer at Western New England at a ceremony at RHAM High School on April 20. Macca is pictured with his sister, Kaylee, and mother, Kerry, to his left and father, Jeff, to his right. 

RHAM senior Andrew Macca has committed to play soccer at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. 
           
“I’m very excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and athletic career at Western New England University,” Macca stated after making his decision. “I would like to thank my family, coaches, and teammates for helping me reach this goal!”
           
Macca was an all-conference player, specializing on the defensive end and midfield, for a Raptors team that held nine opponents scoreless and didn’t allow more than two goals in any game this past fall. 
           
RHAM boys’ soccer head coach Ray Bell said that statistics doesn’t do justice to the type of players that Macca was. 
           
“One of Andrew’s best strengths as a soccer player was his ability to adapt and adjust at the multiple positions we ask him to play. Because of his knowledge of the game he simplified things for his teammates,” Bell said of the versatile Macca. “We were able to put him in the center defender spot as an emergency early in his career and he stabilized the position so much he continued his strong play for the next two years in that spot while also filling roles in the midfield when needed.”  
           
Macca is currently playing lacrosse at the high school and is also in Ski Club, along with being part of National Honor Society at RHAM.
           
Outside of school, Macca is heavily involved in his church, serving as a greeter and working with the youth group. 
           
The Hebron native added that departing the area will be difficult and that he will miss his classmates, teammates, and the surrounding community. 
           
The soon-to-be graduate has some connections to his next destination. His father went to the university and he is familiar with the coaching staff, having played club soccer under WNE head coach Devin O’Neill.
           
2020-RHAM graduate Jonny Clough also plays for the school, starting 17 games and scoring a goal a season ago for the Golden Bears.  
           
“Western New England has always been on my list. Once I got the offer I took it,” Macca said of his college decision.
           
At WNE he’ll join a competitive program under O’Neill, who is entering his eighth season and has won 60% of his games and a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championship since taking over in 2015. Since his tenure, 23 of his players have been selected All-CCC.     
           
Macca added that he’s ready to embrace the next phase in his life, saying he welcomes the increased competition.
 
“I’m looking forward to the competitiveness. I love winning,” said Macca, who will study finance. “I know a lot of people on the team and I’m excited to make that family again with a whole different group of guys.”