University of New Haven Athletics

A two-year member of the New Haven men’s soccer team, Roberto Taylor collected 26 goals in 25 career matches played for the Chargers despite spending some of his time on the defensive end as a back for Head Coach Joe Machnik.

He led New Haven to an ECAC regional tournament win over Kean College in 1973 and was selected as team captain en route to Most Valuable Player honors in 1974. Taylor was later named the University’s Athlete of the Year for the 1974-75 academic year.

In 1976, he went on to play professionally in the American Soccer League for the Connecticut Yankees, where he was chosen as the organization’s Rookie of the Year. After finishing fourth in the ASL in scoring with 14 goals in his first professional campaign, Taylor joined the Hartford Bicentennials in 1977 and played against a talent pool that included the legendary Pelé in the North American Soccer League.