Education
Carenza graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1968. He is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. After high school, he attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville {SIUE) where he played as a forward on the SIUE Cougars men’s soccer team from 1968 to 1971.
SIUE had established its soccer program in 1967, but Carenza carried the team to national prominence.
He still holds the career record for goals with 71 and is second on the career assists list with 29. Carenza earned second team All-American recognition in 1971.
He was also a two time runner-up for the Hermann Trophy. Carenza is a member of Who"s Who Among s & Universities and was a charter member of Sigma Pi Fraternity.
Career
He also spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League. His collegiate success led to his selection to the United States. Olympic soccer team as it began the qualification process for the 1972 Summer Olympics. He quickly made an impact on the team when he scored the United States. goal in a 1-1 tie with El Salvador on July 18, 1971.
He scored again in a 3-1 dismantling of Barbados in August.
On January 23, 1972, he scored another significant goal when the United States. tied Mexico in Mexico. He scored twice more, the last goal coming in the last qualification game, a 2-1 victory over Jamaica which clinched the first United States. appearance at the Olympics in 1956.
The actual games themselves were an anti-climax as the United States. went 0-2-1. Despite Carenza’s success with the Olympic team, he was never selected for the full national team
In 1973, the Saint Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League () selected Carenza in the first round of the Draft.
While he had made his reputation as a high scoring forward, the Stars also used him in defense. He spent four seasons with the Stars, playing in 52 games and scoring 5 goals.
Membership
He is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. Carenza is a member of Who"s Who Among s & Universities and was a charter member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. His father, Joe Carenza, Senior, is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
