Just a short drive separates Trumbull from Fairfield, but for first-year midfielder Alex Vaz, that stretch of road between home and college represents years of sacrifice, hard work, and growth. From turning down and later accepting club offers to now playing for Fairfield, Vaz has paved a path through resilience and discipline. Now, only a few months into his Fairfield career, he is proving himself to be a new keystone for the Stags, with flashes of brilliance that hint at what’s to come.
While the roads between the two towns make up a mere 20-minute drive, the growth that Vaz has experienced across those 12 or so miles has already been immense. Vaz attended Trumbull High School for four years, and it has been instrumental in shaping the person he is today. “Balancing school and soccer wasn’t always easy, but it taught me discipline and time management,” he shared.
Balancing academics with athletics has been a recurring theme for Vaz, who was originally scouted by New York City Football Club (NYCFC) when he was a child; he received his first offer from them when he was just 12 years old. “At that age, I felt I wasn’t ready for such a big commitment,” Vaz explained, “so I turned it down.”
By the time Vaz was 15, NYCFC reached out again with a new offer. “At that time, it felt right. It ended up being the perfect step for me.” Vaz played in the midfield for the NYCFC Boys Academy and graduated this year.
Reflecting on his time with the academy, Vaz is grateful for the lessons learned both on and off the pitch, “It was definitely a challenge. My days would start at 6 AM for school, end at 2:30, and then I’d head straight to New York for practice. I usually wouldn’t get home until 11 at night, and then I’d do it all over again the next day.”
For him, the sacrifices were worth it, “It didn’t leave much time for schoolwork or friends, but it taught me a lot about sacrifice and commitment.”
Naturally, Vaz’s next step in his athletic career brought him to Fairfield. When asked about why he ended up ultimately choosing Fairfield, the environment was the first thing cited. “From the first time I visited, I felt it was the best place for me to grow not just as a player, but as a person.”
Vaz has been making magic in the midfield for the Stags, with three goals to his name so far. In his first official appearance for the Stags, Vaz established himself as an up-and-coming threat against Army West Point with a dime to the upper right corner on a free kick; Fairfield won that game 2-1. Against Monmouth, he scored from across the box with 16 seconds left in the first half; Fairfield won with three unanswered goals.
While both of those goals were impressive, his most recent offensive piece against Columbia was what truly put his name on the map for Fairfield fans. In what was already a tricky game, the Stags found themselves unable to place a shot on goal until Vaz stole the ball away from the Lions and set himself up for a shot from deep. “After I won the ball, I saw space in front of me and just went for it,” Vaz recounted. The shot sailed towards the goal and caught the top right corner, putting Fairfield ahead. “I’ve always had confidence in my ability to shoot, and that one came off my foot perfectly.”
While that game resulted in a 1-1 draw, the signs of what’s ahead for the Stags were all present. “Honestly, it was probably one of the best goals I’ve ever scored,” Vaz added.
Overall, the Stags have made Vaz feel right at home at Fairfield. “This group is really close, and that’s a huge credit to the older guys. They made the transition so easy for me.” His teammate, senior Jordan Blunschi, shared his optimism, calling Vaz a “baller” at first, and then elaborating that he was a “really talented young kid with a lot of potential.”
To Vaz, the culture of the team has helped him not only adjust so well, but also learn so much on and off the field. When asked about his class year playing a role in how he’s felt so far, Vaz shrugged off the idea, saying, “I think Fairfield just has an incredible culture that’s been built over time. The upperclassmen set the tone, and being able to learn from their experience has been huge for me.”
Being from a town over, the mix of backgrounds on the team has been a highlight for Vaz. “The culture is so diverse. We’ve got guys from all different places, with completely different paths and journeys to get here. It’s inspiring to see how all those experiences come together to make one team,” he shared.
When asked about how his experience has been going as a student athlete so close to home, Vaz said that it was just “awesome.”
“Having my family at every game means so much to me. That support system gives me a lot of motivation and pushes me to keep working hard,” he added.
While Vaz arrived at Fairfield only a few weeks ago, his end goals remain as top motivators. “Becoming a professional player has always been a dream of mine, and I’m working toward that every day,” he stated.
For some short-term goals, Vaz looks forward to volunteering with his teammates and connecting with alumni. “One of the coolest things about this school is how involved the alumni are,” he said. “They’re always open to sharing advice, and it’s great to learn from people with so much experience.”
Whether it’s home at Lessing Field or away, Vaz, wearing number 16, is giving it his all on the pitch for Fairfield with hopes of going as far as possible with this team. While they are set to play away at Marist tonight, they will be home against Iona this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
