U11 Red Boys Shine During 7-2 Win Over Milford in Their First Connecticut Cup Game
—submitted by Angela Wilson
L-R: Ben Bilden, Henry Silva, Jack Cuda, Ted Werner, Alex Werner, Augusto Baldini, Will Langford, Enzo Fredericks,Teddy Ansaldi,Jayden Oyekanmi and Cole Wilson. Not in photo: Carter Halsell
U11 Red team led by Richard Sutherland came out fast and furious Saturday for their first Connecticut Cup game. With goals scored shortly after the whistle, the team’s energy and skill level were evident. Will Langford’s cross started off Jack Cuda’s double score during the first half.
Cole Wilson and Enzo Fredericks‘ kicks across the field assisted Ben Bilden’s strategically placed balls to land two more in bringing the score to 4-1 at the start of half time. The spark continued to ignite as Augusto Baldini, Henry Silva , Carter Halsell and Teddy Ansaldi played hard giving Milford few chances at the ball.
Bilden came away with a hat trick to bring the score to 5-1. Jayden Oyekanmi decided to take his shot and add to the score board to land two more in to end the game 7-2. Alex and Ted Werner shared goal keeping . The brothers’ display of confidence and toughness in goal ensured the 7-2 win.
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New Canaan 2006 Girls Red beat Newtown in their 1st CT CUP game, 3-2
—submitted by Stacey Walker
Girls 2006 red halftime huddle. Contributed
Fall had begun. The air was crisp and the sun was shining on Saturday afternoon making it a perfect day for the 1st CT CUP game of the season.
Win, advance—lose, elimination. The Girls 2006 Red Team was up for the challenge.
Katie Quill took her place in goal ready to defend any shots coming her way. New Canaan offense started off strong with Chloe Oyekanmi, Nikki Ferraro and Hadley Walker putting the pressure on and hammering shots at the goalie. Center Middie Ava Pertusiello along with the rock solid defending of Devon Russell, Tema Wagner and Kathryn Norton were shutting down the Newtown offense right out of the gate. Midway through the half, Newtown scored putting them first on the board. Sadly for Newtown, that lead was short lived as Devon Russell went coast to coast battling through everyone to score an upper corner shot tying game.
Newtown answered with a second goal making the score 1-2 going into half time.
Coach Luke Green had a sit down with the girls to fire them up for the comeback they needed.
With Chloe Oyekanmi in goal, the team was focused and eager to show off their skills. Grace Almeida, Fiona Mueller & Katie Quill were geared up to score some goals. Cece Patterson and Lila Volpe knew the pressure was on and they were up for the challenge. The girls worked tirelessly taking shots on goal and beating the defenders but were still trailing 1-2 midway through the half.
Bring on Ava Pertusiello who drilled a shot from the left side on a direct kick nailing the far corner of the goal tying the game, 2-2.
The entire team played together to keep Newtown at bay fighting hard to win the ball with each battle. Chloe Oyekanmi had a few shots to save; none were a match for her quick hands and feet.
A corner kick was called; Ava Pertusiello focused and determined nailed it right into the goal putting New Canaan in the lead. There was no way New Canaan was going to be defeated.
New Canaan held their lead winning the game and advancing to the next round. Stay tuned …
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New Canaan Girls Red U12 Remain Undefeated
—submitted by John Dunn
New Canaan Red U12 Girls
It was a beautiful Fall day as the New Canaan Red U12 Girls took the pitch on Sunday against the FUSA squad out of Fairfield.
The FUSA team played a very physical game but they were matched throughout by the New Canaan girl’s relentless energy and superior ball skills. Kate Caione started the game in goal for New Canaan and very early on it was striker Caroline Underwood scoring her first of 2 goals as she blasted one off the FUSA goalie for a 1-0 lead. New Canaan kept the pressure on but couldn’t break it open as Alexis Tully had both her scoring chances thwarted by the FUSA goalie and Stella Nolan just missed a couple wide of the net. Evelyn Slatoff once again stood tall on D and Isabelle Schuh battled hard on every possession.
The second half opened with Tessa Cosco threading a perfect touch pass to Underwood who knew what to do with it for a 2-0 New Canaan lead. FUSA fought back however, and a quick score cut the lead to 2-1. With tensions mounting FUSA had a chance to tie it but New Canaan goalie Julia Dunn made a great diving save to keep FUSA at bay. Natalie Owsley, in the midst of her best game of the young season, finally put the FUSA squad away as she booted one home for a 3-1 final.
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2005 Girls Black Win First CT Cup Game
—submitted by Mike Mottolese
For most of the girls on the Girls U12 Black team, this was their first CT Cup game. The CT Cup is a single elimination tournament played Saturdays in addition to the regular league games.
The team was eager, but a little nervous, since if you lose you are eliminated.
New Canaan faced off against West Hartford Saturday at Conner Field in New Canaan. The first half saw both teams moving the ball past the centerline, with lots of back and forth action, but neither team was able to take a hold early. With a full squad, the girls shuffled in and out to keep their legs fresh. Midfielders Reagan Bailey, Reagan Quinn, and forwards Peyton Franz, Kelley Marchiony, and Abby Richardson helped New Canaan take over momentum late in the second half. Shots on goal by Kate Warner and Abby Holmstead were kept off the board by good saves from the opposing goalkeeper. Emily Fox handled the duties in goal keeping the first half knotted at zero.
West Hartford came out strong early in the second half, but defenders Amanda Benson and Natalie Plosker protected their keeper Fox. KK Mottolese and Ava Dunn played strong box-to-box midfield, setting up their forwards with scoring chances, Jocelyn Riley nearly making a score. Alex Gelvin, Paxton Beladino and Charlotte Walter put pressure on late. Fox made a great save on a ball bouncing over her head, reaching up to prevent the goal. Lauryn Lee, Rory McCarthy, Delaney Hoey tried to break the ice, but the regulation ended at 0-0. Two hard fought nail-biting 10 minute overtimes also failed to see the score change, so the teams went into a shoot out from the penalty line.
New Canaan’s strongest feet lined up, with Kate Dickinson scoring the first, and Amanda Benson scoring the second. Fox kept the score 2-1 with only one shooter to go, and if Plosker hit it home, New Canaan would win. She lined it up and “Ploskered” it, finding the back of the net for the win. As she ran back to her teammates for the high fives and hugs, they all then turned to find their goalie, chasing Fox around the field in celebration.
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’06 Girls Red Holds Off Bridgeport 2-1
—submitted by Melissa Almeida
Saxe Field was the backdrop on a crisp fall day for a highly competitive matchup between Bridgeport and the 2006 NC Red Girls soccer team. A physically imposing Bridgeport team commanded the early action, controlling the ball and field possession. Only defensive stalwarts Devon Russell, Nikki “Ferrari” Ferraro and Katherine Norton kept Bridgeport off the scoreboard during the early onslaught. Bridgeport eventually broke through after a blast from the left wing and tip in by a young Bridgeport player hungry for the net.
The early Bridgeport goal seemed to catalyze the NC girls, with Fiona Mueller, Cece Paterson, Grace Almeida and Hadley Walker leading great rushes deep into Bridgeport territory. The momentum clearly shifting, the NC Red 2006 girls skill level started to shine and you could feel the excitement building among the many in attendance. The New Canaan faithful, not to be disappointed, were treated to a rush by injured goaltender Leila Volpe, who outran, outfoxed and blasted a shot past the Bridgeport goalie: 1-1, score tied at halftime!
The second half was back and forth with Chloe Oyekanmi, Katie Quill and leading great offensive opportunities. The sideline was humming with excitement when Ava Pertusiello dribbled past two defenders and bombed one from 25 yards out to put the girls in Red & Black into the lead. 2-1 NC! Bridgeport answered with great pressure and great scoring opportunities, only to be outdone by great goalkeeping by Temma Wagner who kept Bridgeport off the Board.
A tense final few minutes ticked off the clock and the 2006 NC Red Girls team came away with another hard fought victory.