By Todd McMillan
The Granby Rovers U14 Girls Soccer Team recently won its second consecutive state championship. On Saturday, November 7, the girls beat a strong Burlington team 4–0 in the Connecticut Cup championship match. This season long, single elimination tournament is sponsored by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and involved 42 town travel teams. In reaching the final match, the Rovers beat competitive teams from Milford, Wallingford, Simsbury, Marlborough and Orange.
The Granby Rovers U14 Girls Soccer Team recently won its second consecutive state championship. On Saturday, November 7, the girls beat a strong Burlington team 4–0 in the Connecticut Cup championship match. This season long, single elimination tournament is sponsored by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and involved 42 town travel teams. In reaching the final match, the Rovers beat competitive teams from Milford, Wallingford, Simsbury, Marlborough and Orange.
Rover boys winners in tournament The Granby Rovers Boys U13 Team won first place in the 2015 Rocky Hill Classic Columbus Day Tournament. The Rovers played opponents from Greenwich, Newington and Norwalk.
From left:
Coaches Peter Dowd, Rick Orluk, Jen Plourde. Back Row: Mark McWhirter, Jon Platti , Aidan Goodrow, Will Pagliaro, Sean Dowd, Aidan Hennessy, Conor Hennessy, Elliot Plourde, Zach Brewer, Aiden Kaczka. Front Row: Dylan Totten, Zach Orluk, Ethan Henebry, Jack DeGray, Will Caley, Lee Owen, Chase McGee
These girls have been playing soccer together for the Granby Rovers Soccer Club for the last six years and take great pride in representing their town. This season was their second consecutive undefeated season. In following up last year’s 22–0 season, this season the girls went 21–0 and, in addition to again winning the Connecticut Cup, won two premier level soccer tournaments during the season. In August, the Rovers won the Labor Day Fairfield FAST Soccer Tournament. Additionally, in beating teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, the girls won the Connecticut Football Club Soccer Tournament held over Columbus Day weekend. In doing so, the girls combine outstanding defensive play with a controlled passing game that leads to effective scoring opportunities down the field. Ultimately, during the course of this fall season, the team allowed only three goals while scoring 65 goals over their 21 matches.
Bottom, from l.: Rachel Hennessy, Anja Sheahan, Sarah Cramer, Felicia Fauteux, Tessa McMillan, Sophie Sessions, Alana King; back: Coach Todd McMillan, Emily Miller, Elsie Phillips, Maria Nolan, Jaira Paine, Anna-Marie Groskritz and Coach Peter Groskritz. Photo by Taylor Kemp
As the girls bring their Rovers soccer careers to an end, they can look back on an overall record of 130–16–8 since their 2011 U10 season. Since that time, they have played in 16 regional tournaments and reached the championship match in all sixteen events. They won 12 of these tournaments and finished second in the remaining four tournaments. Also, over this time, the U14 Rovers competed in four Connecticut Cup tournaments and compiled an overall record of 16–2 by winning two state championships and, in the other two, achieving a semi-final and second round appearance.
Before heading off to Granby Memorial High School next fall, the girls will represent the Town of Granby and State of Connecticut in the Region 1 Presidents Cup U14 Tournament in the spring. Congratulations girls on your second state championship, undefeated season and career with the Granby Rovers Soccer Club.
Front, from l.: Rachel Hennessy, Anja Sheahan, Sarah Cramer, Felicia Fauteux, Tessa McMillan, Sophie Sessions, Alana King; back: Coach Todd McMillan, Emily Miller, Elsie Phillips, Maria Nolan Jaira Paine, Anna-Marie Groskritz, Coach Peter Groskritz. Photo by Taylor Kemp