Rocky Hill Tournament Champs Team Photo! Bottom Row: Devon Heaney (left), Claire Gallic. Middle Row: (left) Kelly Donovan, Megan Seel, Emma Wieland, Taylor Gladd, Katherine Galzerano. Top Row: Jacqui Brattan, Celia Concannon, Kate Farrell, Kelly George, Maggie Casey, Gabriella Rogers, Marlee Rich The Garden City Centennial SC Wildcats (U 11 Girls) continue on an impressive run of play. Columbus Day weekend saw the team up at Six Flags New England to take on the legendary Mind Eraser rollercoaster and other attractions. We’ll call that one a draw. The Rocky Hill Connecticut SC sponsored the soccer tournament and the team faced off against some of Connecticut’s strongest teams. On Saturday they defeated Avon “A” by a score of 5-0. The very early morning kickoff was damp and cold but, despite following Coach W, the team finally made it to the field and were ready to play. The nice possession game generated some scoring chances. As has been the case the girls can finish these off as Kate Farrell, Katherine Galzerano, Kelly George, Claire Gallic, and Taylor Gladd all scored for GC. Up next on Saturday was Wethersfield - a very physical side. GC was up 2-1 at halftime on goals from Megan Seel and Celia Concannon. In the second half the girls continued to run hard up and down the field and in the last 20 minutes placed the game out of reach as Kelly George played a nice pass to Kelly Donovan who scored from the left edge of the six yard box. Emma Wieland deposited a well struck penalty kick inside the right post and GC went on to a 6-1 victory. The team knew the weekend was far from over with big games Sunday against Fairfield and Westport. Maggie Casey’s hard tackling and Gabby Rogers nice transition game enabled Taylor Gladd, Claire Gallic (nicely taken PK), Katherine Galzerano and Marlee Rich to provide the goals in a 4-1 victory. The big game of the weekend was the final 4pm showdown with undefeated Westport Blue Wave. Westport has a strong program and are headed into the final rounds of the Connecticut State Cup with expectations on winning. The Wildcats had their hands full as the opposition were well trained soccer players: fast, physical, skilled and with a game plan. A tie would provide Westport first place as they had the advantage since the rules defaulted down to the 5th tiebreaker. After 8 minutes GC found themselves down 1-0. Needing tight defense and two goals for victory the game turned on a nice save from Kate Farrell in goal, blocking a shot while Devon Heaney ushered the rebound to safety and played Jacqui Brattan down the right sideline. The quick counter had Jacqui in position to rifle a shot in the upper right corner to tie the game. Momentum was now with GC. With five minutes to go in the half G. Rogers hustled at midfield barely keeping a loose ball in play. Little things can really turn the tide in a close soccer match. Instead of a Westport throw in Gabby’s save enabled her to find Katherine Galzerano with a short pass further up the field. A nifty move shaking a midfielder Katherine drove into space down the left side. While looking to her right across the field she noticed Emma Wieland delaying a run out of midfield and then emerging into space just inside the 18 yard box. Katherine’s pass was right on the money as Emma took a good first touch and then scored inside the right post for a 2-1 lead and tournament winner as a scoreless second half secured victory. This game was a great experience for the looming LIJSL showdown with the Albertson Fury. The following Saturday the weather held and the field at St. Paul’s had drained nicely as Albertson arrived seeking victory. The girls picked a great day to play one of their best games ever and memory will recall the great tackling from the backs and midfielders Concannon, Casey, Donovan, Farrell, Galzerano, Heaney, Rogers, Seel, Wieland; solid goalkeeping from Kelly George and Devon Heaney; the FOUR goals scored from left mid Taylor Gladd; the laser-beam cross to the far post from Brattan leading to a wonder-goal from an airborne Marlee Rich who while turning blocked the ball into the goal; and the nice speed and touch from Claire Gallic for GC’s 3rd goal. Taylor Gladd displayed great ball control and composure in finding gaps in the defense and slotting past the GK four times from some tough angles After building a 4-0 lead before the half the Wildcats went on to a 6-3 victory. The win stretches the Wildcats historical record in LIJSL Division 1 play to 17 wins 4 losses 1 tie and 35-8-5 overall since Aug 2008. As the saying goes, your only as good as your next game so we will see as the team will play Home this Saturday against the Farmingdale Shamrocks a 9:30am kickoff.

Celia Concannon battles the Fury in midfield