Rocky Hill Pushes Tolland Girls Soccer Out of State Tournament

The Rocky Hill girls soccer team was able to hold off a late push by Tolland High School Saturday afternoon to win 2-1 in the second round of the state tournament.

The Terriers got on the board first with a goal by senior Cara Pizzo. With 5:03 in the first half, Pizzo scored her second goal and Rocky Hill would take 2-0 lead into halftime.

"She's on a roll," coach AnnMarie Catania, who was filling in for head coach Bill Pacelia, said of Pizzo.

The Eagles came out strong in the second half. Senior Kristen Carr was able to score on a breakaway with 16:54 left in the second half.

Tolland Head Coach Ken Boucher said his team pressured Rocky Hill during the whole second half, but was unable to score the tying goal.

"It just wasn't in the cards. I hate playing a time three times."

In the second half, the Terriers had one player shadow Carr, one of Tolland's best players, and kept four defensive players back. The Terriers also received "unbelievable" defense from goalkeeper Bryanna Montolvo.

"She's an unbelievable keeper and it showed in her play today," Catania said. "She had her team in front of her and she did what she had to do for her team today."

In their previous matchups, Tolland and Rocky Hill tied 2-2 on Sept. 27 at Rocky Hill High School and on Oct. 25, the Eagles beat the Terriers 3-1 at home.

For Tolland, the result of Saturday's game was "disappointing."

"We were good enough and comparable to anyone in the whole bracket," Boucher said. "There are very few teams that are going to run us off the field." 

Rocky Hill girls soccer team will play Nonnewaug at Nonnewaug High School at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

"This is very exciting for them," Catania said. "They worked so hard this season and now, it's paying off."