Fort Dorchester senior Ben Veloso is sometimes overlooked, but the speed, skill and heart he demonstrates on the field have not gone unnoticed.
The four-year letterman for the Patriots has played alongside some athletes with a real knack for finding the net so Veloso hasn’t received all the press and accolades that often accompany being a team’s leading scorer. However, Veloso has made major contributions for Fort Dorchester and is the recipient of Summerville Communication’s Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year honor.
He has scored five goals and earned four assists this season, but those stats don’t accurately reflect how vital he has been to the team. His exceptional ball handling skills and speed make him hard to defend. With his help, the Patriots won 10 of their first 14 matches to move into second place for their region.
The senior has a solid resume.
Veloso is a two-year starter who received All-region honors in 2017 and was named team captain in 2018. He has also been selected to participate in the 2018 S.C. Soccer Coaches Association North-South Soccer Classic all-star match.
His list of club soccer achievements is lengthy. Veloso was a member of the South Carolina Olympic Development Program 2000 Boys Team that attended Regional Camp at the University of Alabama and the SCUFC 99 Elite Team.
He was part of a team that claimed two South Carolina Youth Soccer Association state championships and a National League Division championship. In 2015 he participated in the USYSA National Championships (Elite 8) and participated in the USYSA Premier League from 2013-2018.
After high school, he plans to attend the University of South Carolina and try to walk on to the varsity squad or play for the university’s club team.
