MCCC Trailblazers, Black History Month

Pat Fidelia, Men's Soccer

 

 

Pat Fidelia was the first MCCC men’s soccer African American All-American.  The Haitian-American played four seasons in the North American Soccer League (NASL), two in the American Soccer League (ASL) and one in the United Soccer League (USL).

 

Fidelia attended Rancocas Valley Regional High School and left as the school’s leading scorer.  Fidelia then went to Mercer County Community College where he was an NJCAA All-American in 1976 and 1977.  Fidelia helped lead MCCC to the NJCAA National Championship in 1976, where they lost to St. Louis CC in the championship game.  In his two years at MCCC, Fidelia scored 43 goals.

 

In 1978, Fidelia was drafted by the Houston Hurricanes with the last pick of the NASL Draft.  Fidelia was traded to the Philadelphia Fury and led the team in scoring with eight goals.  In 1979, Fidelia signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League.  In 1982, Fidelia left the NASL for the Carolina Lightnin of the ASL and scored eight goals that season.

 

 

In October 1979, Fidelia earned his only cap for the US National Team, appearing as a sub in a 3-1 win over Bermuda.

 

In 1980, The Complete Handbook of Soccer proclaimed Fidelia the highest scoring substitute the NASL has ever seen.”

 

Fidelia played with the Philadelphia Fury and Montreal Manic of the NASL, the Cleveland Force and Philadelphia Fever of the MISL, the Carolina Lightnin of the ASL and the Charlotte Gold of the USL.