“Abby Wambach was a part of the first induction class in 2017,’' Carleen said of the U.S. Women’s National Team legend. “I have her jersey.”
Carleen grew up playing for the St. Joseph and St. Thomas, St. Patrick’s and Staten Island United clubs in the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
She made her name at New Dorp High School, scoring 122 career goals as a four-year starter while leading the Centrals to two New York City Public School Athletic League (PSAL) titles. By the time she graduated in 1992, she owned the PSAL record in goals.
From 1992 to 1995, Carleen Rago led the Endicott College soccer and basketball teams. She became the women’s soccer program’s all-time leading scorer with 75 goals after scoring 25 goals as a senior and was a two-time All-NEWAC First Team selection. In basketball, her quickness led her to becoming the Gulls’ all-time leader in steals with 412 and assists with 217.
She then played semipro soccer with the New York Magic before there was a women’s professional soccer league.
Nowadays, Carleen is best-known as a coach, leading the Susan Wagner High School girls varsity team to the last nine Staten Island championships in her 24 years at the helm, with seven of those Falcons teams going undefeated. She also coaches two SIYSL Under-9 teams both named the Staten Island Stallions. The boys squad plays travel team soccer while the coed squad plays rec soccer.
Eastern New York Hall of Famer Bill Smith, who volunteered as SIYSL President for 16 years, stated, “Carleen was a great player and is a coach that her players look up and respect as she always puts them first. When I needed help with her nephew’s team, she said, ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’ Carleen helped me with our pee wee program too. When I needed some high school girls to train the little ones, my first call was to Carleen who has never let me down. She sent a few of her players to help.”