New England Revolution has announced that E.O. Smith Regional High School’s Mitchell Taintor, of Storrs, has committed to attend and play soccer at Rutgers University.

“It is always our goal to prepare our players for the demands of top-level soccer,” Bryan Scales, Revolution Director of Youth Development and Under-16 Head Coach said in a prepared statement.

“For a very small percentage of players in MLS’ Academy program, it might make sense to move from the youth teams into the senior team right after high school. But for most, the opportunity to continue their soccer development in college – while getting an education – makes the most sense. It is what makes our country different from all the other soccer-playing nations around the world. We are very happy that our players and their families have made decisions that they feel comfortable with,” Scales said.

This is Taintor’s third season as a member of the New England Revolution youth development program. In his four seasons with E.O. Smith's boys’ soccer team, he has been recognized with NSCAA All-Region I (2010), all-New England (2010), all-state (2010) and all-conference (2008-10) honors, according to the development program.