Class M State Championship Game

After the first game of the season, as Emily and I were walking to the car, her coach was chatting with her about being moved up to Class M. She said something like "I've looked all these teams and we can beat every one of them. But I want Mercy in the finals." Mercy is the all girls Catholic school just down the road from our house, the school that our girls *should* have gone to, but didn't want to. There was no doubt that Emily wanted to play Mercy too, but it was so far away and things would have to line up perfectly, so we never gave it another thought.  

Fast forward two and half months - NWC and Mercy were on opposite sides of the bracket, so if they were going to meet in the tournament, it could only be in the final game. Although Mercy had a scare in the quarterfinals, they survived to play on, and put their worst game behind them. So, on November 19th, the two Catholic schools met in the Class M State Finals.

Starting line ups taking the field and being announced. This is the second year in a row that the state championship games were played at Dillon Stadium, home to our semi-pro team. Another club teammate of Emily's played for Mercy and she knew and/or played with/against every member of the starting lineup.

Emily defending against an All New England player - that she's known since they were in preschool together.

After an offensive onslaught that lasted more than ten minutes (which a Mercy parent later told me was the most incredible effort he'd ever seen against their team), NWC scored, off of a beautiful header from a freshman. Mercy's goalie is a two time All American, so they knew that scoring was going to be difficult, making this goal even sweeter.

It was 1-1 at the half and stayed that way until there was less than 20 minutes to go - Mercy struck for a second time to make it 2-1. With 10 minutes left, a Mercy forward (who was named game MVP) deftly fielded a ball around Emily and the two raced more than 50 yards down the field to the goal. Emily caught her, but couldn't get in front of her and the score was 3-1. It was brutal to watch. After playing her best game only a few days earlier, Emily played an average game in front of a thousand people, many of whom she knew. 

When the game ended, she just sobbed.

The NWC defense, after not allowing a single goal in the entire tournament, let in three in one game.

Even Kennedy couldn't stop her tears.

It was a particularly hard night and few days. She didn't want to go to school on Monday because she was so embarrassed and upset, but made it through. Last year, the girls knew they would have another shot, but this time around, I don't think that they will get back to the tournament, never mind the finals game. They will be moved up yet another class for the tournament and they are losing one of the best players in New England - a special player we have watched in awe for three years. The hole she will leave will be impossible to fill.

Destination Dillon - 2022 Version

The NWC girls started the season with one goal - getting back to the state championship game. They played well during the regular season, pushing through another difficult schedule and ending up as the #13 seed in the Class M tournament. As a school of choice with post-season success, they were required to move up to Class M for this year's tournament, and so had to play larger schools and none of the same schools from last year.  

First up was a home game against #20 Wolcott. They didn't put on their best performance, but it was good enough for a 3-0 win. The defense didn't give up a shot or a corner kick the entire game.

Next, they travelled to Beacon Falls to play Woodland, the #4 seed. Woodland had two forwards that combined for 60 goals during the regular season, as well as an All State goalie, so NWC knew it was going to be a tough game. The NWC defense was incredible, as Woodland didn't cross over the midfield once during the first half. NWC prevailed 3-0, notching it's second shut out of the tournament.

Emily's best friend and fellow defender was injured mid-season and was only cleared to play in November. She subbed on in the first half as a midfielder and scored her first high school goal - which also ended up being the game winner.

Center backs rejoice!

The quarterfinal game was against Cromwell. One of Emily's best friends from her club team plays for Cromwell and Emily knew she would be a formidable opponent - and she was. She had more shots in the first half of the game than Woodland and Wolcott combined for in two games. Fortunately, the rest of the team was not as strong and the NWC midfielders and forwards carved up the Cromwell defense, for a final score of 6-0.

Normally, these two are thrilled to be on the field together. Not today.

Emily defending Cam. This was far from Emily's best game, but as we always say when she's unhappy with her performance, she was good enough.

The semi-final game was at a neutral location against #8 seed Watertown. Social media is a funny thing - and the Watertown girls spent a lot of time before the game boasting about how they had the best defense in the state. When the game was over, NWC felt like they had laid claim to that title. Although it was only 1-0 at the half, NWC exploded for 4 goals in the second half, beating Watertown 5-0. This was Emily's best game of the season - no doubt about it. We knew it, she knew it, and everyone watching knew it. She single handedly kept NWC in the game in the first half and when it was all over, her coach and the team's best player told her she was the MVP of the game. As the girls left the field, almost every parent stopped her to tell her how incredible she played.

One of our friends made this before the game.

Playing at big stadiums and having a locker room never gets old.

When they knew for sure they were going to play for the state championship.

November Soccer

The NWC girls played their last regular season game at the beginning of November, as well as one post-season friendly (both teams had a week long layoff and wanted to avoid getting rusty).  They lost the final game 1-0 - it was close the whole tie and a 0-0 time was within their grasp, but it was not meant to be.  Considering that they held the third largest school in the state to one goal, playing them tough the entire game, was really great.  

Emily stepped up big in not only the final game but also the post season scrimmage as the other center back was out with an injury. She took on a much bigger role in the backfield and really thrived. It was great watching her play with such confidence.

Getting accolades from her coach after a stellar first half.

Emily scored her only goal of the season in the post-season friendly, a great shot off of a corner kick played short.