BY KEN MORSE
CITIZEN’S NEWS
Naugatuck did not become the soccer town that it is without tremendous support from Naugatuck Youth Soccer. The NYS has been the feeder program for Naugatuck High School dating back to its very first season in 1992.
Recently, the Naugy Warriors U13 boys team and the Naugatuck Wolfpack U11 girls team made some noise during the tournament season. The Warriors finished in the semifinal round of the Eastern Regionals and the Wolfpack finished as runner-up for the Connecticut State Cup.
The Warriors, led by coach Bruno Guerreiro, were the 2021 Fall Connecticut State Cup Champions and for that honor they were able to play in the Presidents Cup Eastern Regionals in West Virginia.
“A lot of these kids were on the City Hill Middle School undefeated team in the fall,” said Warriors team manager Jolee Dinho-Guerreiro. “Playing together and playing against some very skilled teams from other states helped them to develop their game. This experience will help them to be even better players going into next season.”
The Warrior roster was comprised of the following players: Jamylle Planas, Jimmy Phetsarath, Christian Kuzia, Wyatt Smith, Tiago Ribeiro, Gabriel Laszkiewicz, Anthony Santo, Deric Eshaghi, Nick Martinez, Ryan Gabriel, Ethan Aviz, Antonio Guerreiro, Julian Visciano, Carlos Sut Buch, Tyler Paniagua, Adin Hasipi and Julian Colon.
The Warriors defeated Legacy FC of West Virginia, 6-0, in the tournament opener. A 1-0 victory over Arundel Soccer of Maryland kept them in the winners bracket and a 4-1 victory over FSC United from Pittsburgh advanced them to the semifinals. The Warriors faced NESA Elite from New Jersey and lost a 1-0 contest on June 18.
The Naugy Wolfpack concluded a 3-1 regular season mark under coach Luis Martinez and assistant coaches Danielle Scanlon and Brett Irizarry. That put the Wolfpack in the CJSA (Connecticut Junior Soccer Association) Connecticut State Cup tournament.
The Wolfpack roster was comprised of the following players: Mia Galiette (captain), Lily Scanlon (captain), Madeline Cheney, Annabella Colon, Julia Coviello, Myla DeRosa, Ava Gilmore, Audrina Irizarry, Beatrice Martin, Mia Martinez, Evie Muro, Judith Ortiz, Tiana Perez and Sophia Vaughn.
The Wolfpack escaped with a quarterfinal win in overtime against West Hartford, 4-3. Coviello knocked two goals to the back of the net, Gilmore added a goal and Galiette sent in the game winner.
In the semifinals, the Wolfpack rose to the occasion again earning a 2-1 win over Newington with Martinez scoring a goal, Scanlon depositing the game winner and goalkeeper Cheney making it hold up.
In the championship game on June 18 the Wolfpack fell short by a slim 1-0 margin and finished as state runner-up.
“These girls have learned the most valuable lesson they can ever learn in playing sports,” said coach Martinez. “They learned what it’s like to play as a team and play for one another. That lesson will serve them well as they go on in life and I’m so proud of each and every one of them.”
