Hami Kara to Continue Soccer Career at U of Pittsburgh

MANCHESTER, CT – Manchester Community College All-American goalkeeper Hami Kara (Wethersfield) will continue his soccer career at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.

Kara was the top goalkeeper at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III level last fall with a 0.246 GAA for Jim Insinga’s 16-2-1, Region 21 Champions.

“Hami was an All-American, an outstanding captain and proved himself in difficult game situations,” Insinga said. “With his preparation, we feel he will be able to be an effective at that very competitive D I level.”

The 2008 Wethersfield High grad started all 19 games for the Cougars as a sophomore, allowing just four goals over 1466 minutes while making 146 saves. Kara was NJCAA Division III Player of the Week for September 23, 2009 after leading the Cougars to three Region XXI shutout victories. On the season, he had five complete game shutouts and shared ten others. He also assisted on a goal.

Kara is expected to compete for the starting goalkeeper position in the fall.

“We are all excited to have Hami join our Pitt team next fall,” Pitt assistant coach Chris Karwoski said. “We know Hami is a quick, technical goalkeeper with a strong junior college experience and we need his level of play coming in to be competitive in the net as we build toward winning the Big East and earning national respect.”

Kara looks forward the education he will receive at Pitt and hopes to be part of a Big East Conference championship.

“I have dreamed about playing in the Big East all my life and all the effort, hard work and dedication I put in has paid off,” Kara said. “And I am really looking forward to continuing my soccer career at Pitt.”