New London — While developing her skills playing for Southeast Soccer Club, Mya Johnson looked up to the older players.

One day, she hoped to be like them.

Johnson, a three-time all-state star at Old Lyme High School, is now Connecticut College women's soccer teammates with two of her Southeast friends/role models in Mia Santana and Kat Norton.

Johnson, a freshman who scored twice in her debut with the Camels on Wednesday, learned from watching New London's Santana and Norton when the trio practiced together at Southeast.

"We'd mix together and play with (older teams)," Johnson said. "When I was playing up a level and playing with Mia and with Kat in some of those practices, they helped me advance. They showed me how do to stuff by how they were doing it.

"... I looked up to kids like Mia and Kat. I just knew I wanted to be like them and I wanted to be known like they were known. Now I'm here playing with them. It's just crazy to me because I looked up to them."

A strong Southeast connection runs through the Conn College soccer programs as well as the local college soccer scene. The club practices at New London High School and draws players from around the area.

Conn College women's coach Norm Riker is the director of coaching at Southeast while assistant coach Analisse Rios also coaches for the local club, as does Camel volunteer assistant Rob Brule, who is on the board of directors.

First-year Conn men's assistant Andrew Storton was Johnson's first coach at Southeast and remains involved with the club while head coach Reuben Burk is a club assistant on the boys' side.

At neighboring Mitchell College, Marc Davis, in his first season as head women's soccer coach, and Mariners men's coach Damian Houlden also coach at Southeast. Coast Guard Academy men's coach Chris Parsons is on the Southeast board of directors and Coast Guard women's assistant Andrea Giuliano is the club's goalkeeper director for the girls.

"Our three local colleges are really entrenched in Southeast," Riker said. "We're proud of that. I always say our club is our community and that's a great example of it. We're just really fortunate to live in a great area and have a club that we're all building and part of."

Because of their positive experience on the club level, some Southeast players end up playing for their club coaches in college, including Brandon Sirois (Lyman Memorial) and Jack Varley (Montville), both freshmen at Mitchell.

Santana, Johnson and Norton all point to their strong relationship with Riker as a factor in selecting their new soccer home.

"Obviously, Norm is such a great coach," Johnson said. "Being on Southeast I could see that experience and see his coaching style first hand and that is a huge reason I picked Connecticut College for the soccer aspect."

College choices at the Division III level revolve around academics, so Johnson had that base well-covered at Conn. 

Location also plays a role.

"At first, I didn't want to come here because it was so close and near everybody," said Santana, a senior from New London. "I wanted a fresh start. But, thankfully, Norm kept talking to me and (telling me) it would be a great fit.

"I'm really glad that I decided to come because it's been one of my best decisions ever. It's a beautiful campus, a beautiful culture we have here. I love my team. Absolutely love my team."

And when Southeast players elect to search for a college outside of the region, they can turn to their club coaches with college connections for advice and help navigating the process.

A testament to the club's success rate developing players can be found in the recently graduated high school Class of 2019. Eighteen Southeast players from last spring's under-18 teams — boys and girls — are freshmen on college rosters this fall.

"The goal for me at Southeast is to develop kids," Riker said. "I'm not really trying to say, 'hey, come to Connecticut College.' I want to make sure the fit is right. I want them to see it. I don't want to be the one pushing them to see it.

"... Because we're college coaches, we know all these other great schools out there. I can name a hundred schools where players can go look and really find a great fit and I know the coach. We're able to do this on a lot of fronts. We do a nice job finding places for kids."

A Southeast soccer education prepared Norton and Santana, club teammates, to play against elite level New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) competition.

Norton, a junior from Hampton, made a significant impact from day one. She led the team in scoring last season with 10 goals and four assists. Santana is playing an important contributing role, appearing in 47 career games through her first three seasons.

"My (Southeast) coaches pushed me to play harder in games," Norton said. "My team at Southeast won a state cup championship, which was pretty incredible for the Southeast community. That was something that pushed me to be more competitive and keep working harder. I had an opportunity to go to regionals after that. I was able to play at such a higher level and that prepared me for college."

Johnson is looking forward to her first season with the Camels. She comes in with an impressive high school resume, helping the Wildcats win four state championships and leaving as the program's all-time leading scorer. She was a three-time recipient of The Day's All-Area Girls' Soccer Player of the Year honor.

She credits Southeast for helping to put her in this position.

"I can't even put into words how thankful I am for all that Southeast has done for me," Johnson said. "Andrew Storton has always been there; he was my first Southeast coach. We always talk about that.

"I was good enough when I joined Southeast, but I wasn't anything compared to what I am today. It made me so much more competent on the ball."

Johnson, Santana and Norton will represent both Southeast and Connecticut College on the pitch this fall.

Maybe all at the same time.

"I think it is really awesome," Norton said. "Especially that we're all forwards. We have a similar connection. I'm hopeful at one point that we'll all be on the field together at the forward positions. Very exciting."

Santana added: "I think us three up top would be a force. That would be exhilarating just having us three on the field together."

g.keefe@theday.com

SOUTHEAST SOCCER CONNECTIONS

Southeast Soccer Club developed a bumper crop of college players in the high school Class of 2019. The following players are on college rosters this fall:

GIRLS

Juliette Hogan (NFA), Eastern Connecticut

Mya Johnson (Old Lyme), Connecticut College

Madeline Kawecki (Old Saybrook), Salve Regina

Michaela MacCracken (Montville), Wheaton

Dani McCarthy (Old Lyme), Western New England

Ali VanVolkenburg (Ledyard), Western New England

Caroline Wallace (Old Lyme), Johnson & Wales

BOYS

Ian Kamperschroer (Ledyard), Rhode Island College

Clay Knibbs (Madison), Springfield College

Alec Kosinki (East Lyme), St. Joseph's (Maine)

Jamison Magowan (Stonington), Assumption

Troy Mauer (NFA), Salve Regina

Jack Minas (Montville), Emmanuel

RJ Parrilla (Stonington), Babson

Paddy Ryan (Old Saybrook), Stonehill

Brandon Sirois (Lyman Memorial), Mitchell

Jack Varley (Montville), Mitchell

Tyler Velazquez (Montville), Saint Leo (Fla.)