Fall Sport Preview: Girls Soccer Team Returns Eight of 11 Starters

Head Coach Bill Pacelia does not mince words when discussing his expectations for the girls soccer team.

“I’m looking for great things from this team. They have a great opportunity to contend for our conference and state championship.”

The terriers went 11-6-1 last season before losing to eventual Class M champion Northwest Catholic in the second round of the state tournament. This season, they can and should exceed that finish. The team returns eight of 11 starters.

They are particularly strong on the defensive side of the ball with juniors Brooke Lawlor and Jen Inho serving as standouts. Star keeper and junior Bryanna Montalvo will anchor the defense and with her in goal, Rocky Hill will seemingly never be out of any games.

Pacelia constantly praised Montalvo, proclaiming her unbelievable and stating “she has all the technical skills and tactical knowledge our championship keepers of the past have had.”

Pacelia’s one major concern is with his team’s ability to play consistently well on offense. The offense, which is led by seniors Colby Stock and Emily Thompson, lacks the one or two standout goal scorers any championship team needs. Pacelia acknowledges that Rocky Hill must “be more aggressive" and "finish more scoring opportunities.”  His top players have to play to one another better if the terriers are to reach their full potential in 2011.

The terriers opened their season with a scoreless tie against Farmington that went to double overtime. The defensive unit had “a terrific game” in their coach’s words and Montalvo earned three saves.

However, the team was unable to finish a couple of scoring chances with Farmington denying them five times on goal.

Rocky Hill’s game Friday against CCC rival Bloomfield again demonstrated that the team’s defense is far ahead of its offense, at least for now.

The defense played another strong game, holding Bloomfield scoreless and helped to generate 28 shots on goal for the terriers. But, the team only scored twice with the goals coming from sophomore Taylor Poulin and junior Melania Aglieco.

“I’m somewhat disappointed in scoring only two goals. But it does take only one. The girls know they have a great opportunity here; they will have to finish better. Which I believe they will.”     

After beating Bloomfield 2-0, the terriers beat E.O. Smith 4-0 on Monday and Hartford Public 6-0 on Wednesday. Their next game is against Fermi at Fermi High School Friday at 3:45 p.m.