This article is supported by shared photographs from Ted Bondi’s family. Ted Bondi maintained a scrapbook of his athletic career, and combined with newspaper clippings, Bondi’s goalkeeping career is pieced back together for this article. Thank you to the Bondi family for sharing the photographs. All pictures are from the scrapbook, unless noted as newspaper clippings.
1. General information/stories about childhood?
2. Military service / later stationings
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It’s hard to know exactly how the fervor behind Bondi’s historic run as the nation’s top goalkeeping prospect began. Born in Rochester, New York, in 1929, Bondi grew up just south of the “Flower City” in Geneseo, attending the local high school from 1944-1947. Bondi was an all-around athlete, lettering in basketball, baseball, track, and soccer. In a 1999 interview, Bondi explained how he stumbled into the position. “Our goalie wasn’t too good so if we were ahead, my coach put me in goal in the second half to protect the lead,” said Bondi. Bondi’s junior year featured a 2-1 win over Spencerport before ultimately falling in the Class A championship game, losing 4-2 to John Marshall High School. Goals scored (excluding penalties) counted as two goals and Len Hackshaw scored the game-winner before joining Bondi at Brockport State.
Bondi’s senior year ended in a close semifinal loss to Brighton in late October of 1946. Although Bondi’s specific contributions in his final contest with Geneseo High are not documented in available newspapers, Bondi’s soccer career had much more in store, making the Geneseo proud of their All-American youngster’s extenseive efforts on and off the field for many years to come.
Bondi, bottom left, with Geneseo High. The Times-Union, November 6, 1945
Bondi at Geneseo High. Date unknown.
Bondi at Geneseo High. Date unknown.
Bondi at Brockport State
At Brockport, Bondi was immediately named the starter, replacing outgoing goalkeepers Joe Costello and Ed Stackwick. In his opening match, Bondi was complimented for making “many nice stops, feinted deceptively, and kept himself out of trouble with long accurate boots and tosses.”
Various clippings from Bondi’s first year at Brockport
In the third match of the season, Bondi seemed to have made a name for himself in a 2-1 loss to Cortland. “Ted Bondi’s sensational goal-tending feat will long be a favorite topic of discussion around college. Time after time he had the fans gasping as he made unbelievable saves, dashed out to intercept onrushing linesmen, and feinted past hard charging checkers. Yessir, Mr. Bondi was really terrific; ask anyone who saw the game.”
In the final match of the 1947 campaign, Bondi’s excellence was noted as something of common expectation. “Once again Ted Bondi was forced to demonstrate his good tending skill to the delight of the crowd.” Another article echoed the sentiments, “The Sampsonities broke loose to force Ted Bondi to again display his wares. To the delight of the fans, he gave another stellar exhibition of how a goalie should perform.”
With his exploits on full display, Bondi was awarded the second-team All-American award in his freshman year, as well as receiving high praise for his overall character. “Not only should Geneseo be proud of Ted for his playing ability but also for the spirit of fair-play and sportsmanship which he displays on and off the playing field. He is a fine example of ‘All-American Youth’. Keep up the good work, Ted, and may a lot more deserving honors come your way.”
Bondi and Whaler featured in the all-star game following their freshmen years.
On November 23rd, 1947, Bondi and Whatford - the college’s first two All-Americans in Brockport’s history - were featured in a collegiate all-star matchup between New England and New York. Despite hailing from the smallest school, Bondi and Whatford made Brockport proud as they were happy to punch up a weight class. Both players were theilled at the opportunity and their performances, as Whatford was quick to compliment his teammate, “All of the fellows on our team cooperated well and didn’t try to be ‘heroes’. Every one of the players was good. Bondi really played a swell game and made several beautiful stops.”
After an extremely successful freshman year, Bondi was invited to the tryouts for the 1948 Olympic team. Bondi was featured on the New York squad that faced a team based out of New England. The match finished 2-2 but Bondi was invited to the following rounds, including a match against a local club team (who they beat 7-0) and North vs. South soccer game where the final team would be selected. The game finished in a 1-1 tie and Bondi was one of the 25 players “who were told we had made the Olympic team”. Bondi and the rest of the players were fitted for uniforms but in early 1948, Bondi and the other 24 selected players were told they wouldn’t be going. “Four of the players selected for the [final] Olympic squad played on the team we beat 7-0,” recalled Bondi. The reason for the last-minute switch is unclear. Bondi cited a rumored $10,000 donation from a club team to allow their preferred players in. Although unverified, the Olympic Committee’s attempted to have a tryout with 5,000 players, hoping to bank on the spectators purchasing tickets to prove as a fundraiser, but adverse weather ruined the scheduling for the exhibitions and the Olympic Soccer Committee was forced to try and raise the most of the $14,000 in expenses on their own. The US faired poorly at the London Olympics, losing in their opening, and only, match against Italy 9-0.
The Republican, April 20, 1948
Bondi’s sophomore season kicked off
spoils were spread throughout the team as the squad went undefeated in their eight matches, a 2-2 tie against Hamilton was the only blemish on the team’s schedule. Bondi conceded five goals in the eight matches.
Various newspaper clippings from Bondi’s sophomore year.
On October 9th, Brockport won a match over the “Rochester All-Stars” 4-3, although additional reports on the match are unavailable. Brockport doesn’t cite the match in their official record for the year but the scheduled match gives a testament to the seriousness of the season.
Brockport welcomed an international challenge for their third match of the season with Western Ontario coming down to play on October 16th. The Democrat and Chronicle did their best to hype up the international matchup. “The visitors [Western Ontario], reported to be the strongest collegiate team in Canada, will provide the first major college competition for BSTC." (October 15, 1948) Unfortunately, the match did not live up to the billing as Brockport won the game handily, 6-0. However the following schedule proved to be a tough ask for any college. With four games in eight days - all in different locations across New York state - Brockport had a mountain to climb to challenge for the title of National Champion.
“As the score indicates the first encounter was a complete rout, the varsity tallying four goals in the first 8 1/2 minutes before being yanked. However, a poor playing field, bad breaks and one questionable decision, a refusal to give the penalty kick to Brockport on an unnecessary roughness violation within the Hamilton penalty area, by the official told the story.” (The Times-Union, October 27, 1948)
After two years of failing to get back Cortland, Bondi’s booters earned a 3-1 win over one of their fiercest rivals in a 3-1 win.
As one of the few undefeated teams in the nation, Brockport were undoubtedly in the conversation as a national champion, yet the honors were given to the University of Connecticut after an astonishing 11-0 season.
On April 23, 1949, Bondi and the College All-Americans took on an all-star squad from New York…
- Teammate Howard Whatford
Bondi’s junior year - Fall 1949
Bondi’s junior year ended in a 7-1 record, conceding only three goals across the eight competitions, with a 1-0 loss away at Seton Hall proving to be the only thorn in Brockport’s side. (Extended season recap)
The 1949 All-American voting process…
Lost to buffalo Becks 2-1 December 18, 1949
- “The game was played in a sea of mud - on the Lexington Ave. Sports Club field. But despite the miserable playing conditions, it was a hard-fought battle, with tempers flaring on several occasions.” // democrat and chronicle (dec 19, 1949)
- full national cup
Rochester Thistles 1949-1951
In 1950, Bondi was selected to play on a Western New York all-star team. The all-star squad squared off against the touring Hamburg. Although the Americans lost 7-2 in front of 4,000 spectators, Bondi was named as the most astounding American player they face on the tour and the German coach wanted Bondi to join the German side. The Times-Union praised Bondi’s efforts, despite the high scoreline, “Now [scoring seven goals] is quite a trick, for Mr. Bondi is today one of the best goalies in the United States-in the opinion of local soccer officials and in the opinion of the Hamburg Sports Verein, which unanimously acclaimed his feats last night... The score could easily have gone into double figures had it not been for the terrific defensive play of Bondi.”
Bondi’s senior year - Fall 1950
Although individual stats weren’t kept at the time, Brockport’s offense seemingly struggled with the graduation of three-time All-American Howard “Weasel” Whatford in 1949, who later played for the US Men’s National Team. After going 7-1, the Golden Eagles fell to 3-2-3 (W-L-T). In the second match of the season, Brockport were upset by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2-0 on September 30, 1950. The Times Record reported that “Ted Bondi at goal and left half Don Thompson were outstanding for Brockport in a losing cause.”
The early loss seems to have derailed the team’s momentum as Brockport squeaked by their next two opponents (2-1 over Oswego and 5-4 to Buffalo State) before tying the next three matches and losing the final match of the season, scoring only four goals in the final four matches of the season. Brockport’s season felt like it was akin to rolling snake eyes repeatedly, as even their last four matches all went to double overtime but the offense just couldn’t break the deadlock.
Despite struggling to notch their expected amount of wins, Bondi woudl still be praised for his performance in net. Against Seton Hall, in a 0-0 tie, “Seton Hall was robbed of what looked like a sure goal midway through the fourth quarter when Brockport's All-American goalie, Ted Bondi, made an outstanding save of the shot that was earmarked for the net from the time it left the toe of Seton Hall Forward, Johnny Kelly.” (Democrat and Chronicle, October 22, 1950). Norm McCarthy wrote in the Times-Union, “It's a joy to watch Bondi in front of the nets. His uncanny ability to anticipate the impending drive of the opposition and his quickness to recover after a brilliant save in order to be ready for a successive thrust makes the difference between him and the ordinary goalie. He's as quick as the trigger of a gun and is seldom caught off balance." (October 28, 1950)
Ted Bondi’s four All-American awards. (Photo courtesy of the Bondi family.)
The disappointing season didn’t stop Bondi from capturing more hardware for his trophy case. On November 26, 1950, Bondi and the Rochester Thistles topped the Buffalo Becks 3-0 in the Northwestern New York State Championship.
December 3, 1950 - thistles v sports club Lexington ave
December 10, 1950 - lost to Rochester Sports Club 3-2
While a limited 7 or 8 game schedule couldn’t compete with the undefeated and more extensive schedules of rival schools at the time. Regardless of the limited travel budget, Bondi finished his collegiate career with a 77% win percentage and 16 shutouts.
Despite a disappointing senior year, Brockport would pose as a formidable force all the way into the 1970s, before becoming a Division III university in 1973. Joe Boorish, who played at Brockport from 1955-1958, recounts Bondi’s lasting legacy, “I played there from 1955 to 1958. The ’55 team was national champs yet all we heard about were the exploits of former goalkeeper Ted Bondi.”
In November of 1950, Bondi was stated to be joining the Army Air Force in June of the following year, once he complete graduation. (The Times-Union, November 30, 1950).
Fall 1951 - coaching at UNC and working with UNC’s JV team
November 25, 1951 - thistles v Italian-Americans // US Amateur Cup
In 1952, Bondi once again tried out for the Olympic team. Although Bondi was showed well at the first round of tryouts, the dream was shorter lived than his previous attempt in 1948. “I was in the Air Force, stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas, and they wouldn’t release me for the next tryout. Soccer isn’t big in Texas.”
Democrat and Chronicle, September 12, 1952
After a year at UNC, Bondi returned to the Rochester area to join the Rochester Celtics for the start of their 1952-53 season. In the Celtics’ first Inter-City Soccer League match, they could only field nine players but with Bondi in net, the Celtic held the opposing Italian-Americans to a 1-1 tie in their opening match on September 14, 1952. A couple weeks later, the Democrat and Chronicle praised Bondi for “again playing a whale of a game, including a save of a Sports Club penalty kick” in a 7-1 win in late September.
It was a short stint with the Celtics though, as mid-October proved to be his last time with the team before joining the Air Force after a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Becks where Bondi “thwart[ed] any and all Buffalo threats to score by some pretty goal play.” However Bondi continued playing despite being in the service. On October 25, 1952, the Sampson Air Force Base soccer team topped Union College 6-0. Union’s offense “was stymied by the stellar work of the Sabres’ goalie, Ted Bondi”. Bondi led the team to a 2-1 win over the University of Rochester the following month as well.
1955 seems to be the last time Bondi was featured in goal. In April, Bondi was reported with the Polish-Americans in both Inter-City Soccer League play, as well as the Northwestern New York State Soccer Cup Championship. Once again, the two All-American teammates of Bondi and Whatford were on the same side. But in August, Bondi was back with the Celtics in what looks like both Bondi’s and Whaler’s last season on the field. But despite taking time off from regularly playing, Bondi would still be cited as being a positive impact on his team, “The return of goalie Ted Bondi to the Celtics’ lineup was noticeable in the team’s effective defense.” (Democrat and Chronicle, August 28, 1955)
Bondi’s last recorded appearance in goal seems to be October 30, 1955, where the Rochester Celtics lost 1-0 to the Italian-Americans in the first round of the National Amateur Cup at Red Men's Field. The game was hyped as a defensive battle just days prior, “This game also pits two of the greatest goalie ever to play in the Rochster area, the Celtics' All-American Ted Bondi and the Italians' Al Nicolini.”
Although his playing days were a thing of the past for the 26 year old, Bondi quickly returned the favor to the Geneseo community. The length of this article could easily be increased tenfold if we just discussed Bondi’s time in sports off the field. Bondi coached American football for 11 years in Geneseo Secondary Schools and led the high school basketball team to multiple county and sectional championships. Bondi also coached soccer, baseball, swimming and lacrosse at University of North Carolina during his master’s program. He would later go on to join the Section V Athletic Council as well as be a part of the executive committee for the New York Public School Athletic Association. In fact, Bondi’s off-field exploits were so extensive that simply naming all the accolades and Hall of Fames he was inducted into seems to best sum up his continued investment back into his community.
Brockport Hall of Fame, 1985
Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame, 2002
Geneseo Central School Alumni Hall of Fame, 2005
Brockport Hall of Heritage, 2006
NY Section V Basketball Hall of Fame, 2008
NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame, 2009
NY Section V Athletics Hall of Fame, 2017
NYSAA Hall of Fame, 2018
Theodore “Ted” Bondi was the perennial multi-sport athlete.
After graduating Brockport and earning his master’s in education at UNC, Bondi joined the Air Force and eventually returned to his hometown of Genoso, NY, where he would begin playing soccer again, as well as coaching soccer, basketball, football, baseball, lacrosse, and swimming in the area.
Despite domestic soccer being at a very low point in the 1950s, Bondi’s untouched collegiate accomplishment and loyalty to his hometown highlight him as both the common man and an outstanding goalkeeper for his time. Bondi passed away in 2010 after being named in multiple Hall of Fames in the northeast and now has a memorial scholarship named after him.
Whereas goalkeepers like Brad Friedel and Tony Meola managed to dominate the college level at a time when there was no professional structure, Bondi’s accomplishments were a level above even those national team stalwarts when it comes to recognition at the collegiate level, putting the everyday sportsman into a tier of his own.
Ted Bondi passed in September of 2010 at the age of 81. A lifelong resident of Geneseo, Bondi left an immeasurable impact on his community as a constant in the athletics scene. His continued dedication to those around him - spanning his service to the country, as well as his commitment to his teammates on the field - not only makes him one of the greatest American goalkeepers to have ever played, but one of the most relatable goalkeepers as well. His loyalty to those around him still resonates decades after he concluded the greatest collegiate career any goalkeeper has had in the history of NCAA Men’s Soccer.
