Girls Soccer 2018

Comeback Kids
Late rally propels Westies to draw with SHA
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 8, 2018) - For 60 minutes, the West Haven girls soccer team did not play to coach Pete Trenchard's liking. The final 20 minutes were a different story.

Rallying from a two-goal second half deficit, the Westies opened the season with a 2-2 draw with Sacred Heart Academy at West Haven High Saturday evening.

West Haven celebrates Cori Severino's goal against Sacred Heart Academy, September 8, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"We didn't play to our potential for most of the game, and we made some silly mistakes that led to us falling behind by two," Trenchard said. "We made a few changes and were able to battle back for the tie. I'm proud of how the girls kept their heads up and never gave in."

Trailing 2-0 in the second half, freshman Cori Severino got the Westies within striking distance when she scored off an assist from senior Kelsey Gilmore with 17 minutes, 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Mackenzie Gardner makes the save against Sacred Heart Academy, September 8, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

Less than four minutes later, the game was even. Junior Jessica Robinson sent a feed to junior Alexia Guerrero who found the back of the net to even the game at two with 14 minutes to go.

Sophomore Mackenzie Gardner made 5 saves in the game for the Westies.

Showing Fight
Westies rally to top North Haven 2-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 11, 2018) - Through two games in the 2018 season, one thing is for sure with the West Haven girls soccer team. With plenty of grit, the Westies have shown they are never out of a game.

After fighting back to play to a draw in the season opener, West Haven again rallied and topped North Haven 2-1 in North Haven Tuesday evening.

"It was a good win for us," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We were down 1-0 early, but we were able to battle back and get two goals. North Haven was quick and aggressive and came at us hard. Both teams played tough and it was a very even game, the kind that could have gone either way."
Trailing 1-0, sophomore Kaylie Hollister evened the contest at one before the half off an assist from senior Kelsey Gilmore.

With play going back and forth, the Westies pulled ahead for good in the 73rd minute.

Senior Keegan Riccio scored the go-ahead goal with seven minutes left in the contest off an assist from junior Alexia Guerrero for a 2-1 lead West Haven never relinquished.

Sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie gardner made six saves in the win for the Westies.

Guilford knots Westies
Westies move to 1-0-2 with draw
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 15, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against Guilford Saturday in West Haven. With the tie, the Westies moved to 1-0-2 on the year.

"This was a good result," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We went toe to toe with a perennial girls soccer power in the SCC. We played strong and aggressive, and limited them to shots from bad angles that Mack (Mackenzie Gardner) was able to save easily."

Jessica Robinson gave West Haven a 1-0 lead when she scored off an assist from Kelsey Gilmore at the three minute mark.

Guilford came right back just under four minutes later when Tatum Meder scored off an assist from Lily Riccio.

Guilford finished with nine shots to West Haven's five. Mackenzie Gardner finished with five saves. .

WH falls to Lauralton Hall
Westies drop 2-1 decision
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 18, 2018) - Looking to pick up its second win of the season, the West Haven girls soccer team traveled to Milford Tuesday afternoon to play Lauralton Hall.

Unable to get going, the Westies struggled and fell 2-1. With the loss, West Haven dropped to 1-1-2 on the year.

Keegan Riccio (17) and the West Haven girls soccer team fell against Lauralton Hall, September 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"We weren't at our best today," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "Lauralton came at us and we struggled to find a rhythm in the game. We had a few good chances, but we couldn't capitalize. They were the better team on the day."

Cori Severino (20) and the West Haven girls soccer team fell against Lauralton Hall, September 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Keegan Riccio scored the lone West Haven goal with an unassisted tally, while Mackenzie Gardner played well and finished with seven saves.

Hand blanks Westies
West Haven falls 2-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 20, 2018) - After dropping a tough match against Lauralton Hall, the West Haven girls soccer team was looking to rebound. Playing a hard-nosed team in Hand, West Haven could not get on the scoreboard in a 2-0 loss at Ken Strong Stadium Thursday evening.

The Westies fight for possession against Hand-Madison, September 20, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"We played well against a strong team," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "They got one early on us and the second came as we were pushing for an equalizer. We were organized defensively and created a few quality chances offensively. We were unlucky a few times, but overall we played a good game. "

Jessica Robinson against Hand-Madison, September 20, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

The Tigers scored 9 minutes, 47 seconds into the game and that was all they would need, holding West Haven to just five shots in the contest. West Haven played evenly, but Hand capped the game with a goal with 6:20 remaining.

Mackenzie Gardner made seven saves n the loss.

Westies blank Lyman Hall
Severino, Gardner lead way in 1-0 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 22, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer team snapped its two-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Lyman Hall Saturday morning in Wallingford. With the win, the Westies improved to 2-2-2 on the season.

"We played well from start to finish, and kept the play in their half for much of the game," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We were unlucky not to have three or four goals. If we keep this level going forward, we will be tough to beat."

Freshman Cori Severino scored the lone West Haven goal off an assist from Selena Izzo.

With the one goal, sophomore Mackenzie Gardner did the rest, stopping all three shots she faced for the shutout.

Gardner, Gilmore lead WH past Easties Westies top EH 1-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 26, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer team improved to 3-2-2 with a 1-0 victory over East Haven Wednesday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.

Playing solid defensively for the second straight contest, the Westies posted their second straight shutout. Mackenzie Gardner made three saves, posting her second straight shutout, in another solid effort.

Mackenzie Gardner posted her second straight shutout in a win over East Haven, September 26, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"It was an important win for us," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "East Haven was compact and tough to break down, but Kelsey scored a great goal from a nice passing sequence, capped off by Cori playing a great through ball. They kept a lot of pressure on us until the very end, but we were able to hold them off and get the win."

West Haven again had a solid defensive effort against East Haven, September 26, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

With the defense not allowing a goal, West Haven was able to convert in the second half as the result of nice passing.

Freshman Cori Severino capped the attack with a perfect through ball to senior Kelsey Gilmore, who finished to give West Haven a 1-0 lead at the 36:04 mark of the second half.

Gilmore's goal was all West Haven needed as a solid defensive effort yet again paved the way to the win.

Defensive

Westies post 3rd straight shutout in win over Foran
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 27, 2018) - West Haven coach Pete Trenchard constantly reminds his players the importance of defense. The teacher is no doubt getting through to the students.

Playing tough once again, the Westies posted their third consecutive shutout victory with a 1-0 win over Foran Thursday evening in Milford. The victory allowed the Westies to improve to 4-2-2 on the season.

Julia Walker (8) against Foran, September 27, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"It was nice to get the win away from home," Trenchard said. "We weren't at our best, but we were able to grind it out and get the result. Being 4-2-2 at the midway point of the season puts us in good shape. Every game is a grind, but the team is getting results and working hard."

Emily Merola (11) against Foran, September 27, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

After a scoreless first half, West Haven scored the only goal of the contest in the second half at the 49:30 mark.

Set up with a corner kick, West Haven and Foran had a scramble in the box. Sophomore Selena Izzo came up with the loose ball and deposited a shot in the back of the goal for the only goal the Westies would need.

The defense and goalkeeper Mackenzie Gardner did the rest. Foran was held to seven shots in the game with Gardner turning aside all seven.

The Westies finished with six shots in the contest.

All Knotted Up
Late rally propels Westies to draw with SHA
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 5, 2018) - After being shut out by Sacred Heart Academy, the West Haven girls soccer team was looking to get in the win column against North Haven Friday evening. Jumping out to an early lead, the Westies were in good position to do so.

Unfortunately for the Westies, they could not hold on. With a late goal, the Indians were able to come away with a 1-1 tie
“North Haven was a tough team that kept us under a lot of pressure,” West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. “We went up early through a Kelsey Gilmore goal, but North Haven was able to tie it midway through the second half. Overall, a tie was a fair result.”

West Haven's lone goal came off the foot of Kelsey Gilmore. Mackenzie Gardner made six saves in the draw.

Guilford tops Westies
WH winless in last three contests
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 9, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer is winless in its last three games after dropping a 3-0 decision in Guilford Tuesday evening. The loss dropped West Haven to 4-4-3 on the season.

"We didn't play poorly, but three mistakes cost us three goals," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We played hard to the end, and forced their goalie to make some good saves. I'm upset with the result, but not the effort."

Mackenzie Gardner made six saves in the loss.

Lauralton blanks Westies
Winless streak reaches four
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 12, 2018) - Sometimes the better team does not always win. Just ask the West Haven girls soccer team.

Despite playing extremely well offensive, defensively and in goal, the Westies were unable to come away with a victory Friday night.

Using a late goal. Lauralton Hall nipped the Westies 1-0 at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. The loss extended West Haven's losing streak to two games and their winless streak to four games as it fell to 4-5-3 on the year.

"That is the bad thing about our game," West Have coach Pete Trenchard said. "The better team doesn't always win. We outplayed a good team tonight, but they we able to sneak a late goal in against us. I am very proud of the team tonight and how hard they played. It's tough, but I'm upset with the result, definitely not with the effort."

Mackenzie Gardner made six saves in the loss.

Hand blanks Westies
Winless streak reaches five
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 16, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer team has had its struggles scoring lately. Tuesday evening was no exception.

Facing a tough Hand squad in Madison, the Westies were blanked 5-0.

The loss was West Haven's third in a row and moved its winless streak to five games. West Haven (4-6-3) has been shut out in four of those contests.

"It was a tough game against a good team," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We had to make a hard decision to rest players because of back to back games and four games in less than a week. The next three games are crucial. We are going to take the positives out of the game and use it as a learning opportunity as we move forward."

Skid Over
WH blanks Lyman Hall
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 16, 2018) - With a winless streak at five and having been shut out in four of those contests, West Haven was looking to turn around their fortunes. The Westies did so in impressive style.

West Haven against Lyman Hall, October 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

Posting a shutout of its own, West Haven ended the slide with a 3-0 victory over Lyman Hall at Ken Srong Stadium in West Haven Wednesday evening.

Madison Lentine (18) and West Haven against Lyman Hall, October 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies (5-6-3) controlled play with 15 shots in the contest and held the Trojans to just three. Mackenzie Gardner posted her fourth shutout of the year, making three saves.

The win was not only West Haven's fifth of the season, but it allowed the Westies to punch their ticket to the postseason.

"We played well and did the little things right tonight," West haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We came out strong and controlled the game from start to finish. Lyman Hall pushed us hard, but we rose to the challenge. Keegan (Riccio) was phenomenal tonight with two goals and an assist. The girls knew a win tonight would guarantee us a spot in the CIAC (state) tournament, and they got it done."

Keegan Riccio led the offense with two goals and an assist, and Kelsey Gilmore assisted on Riccio's first goal and scored the third West Haven goal off an assist from Riccio. Freshman Cori Severino assisted on Riccio's second goal of the contest.

Westies knot East Haven
Riccio's goal provides equalizer
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 19, 2018) - The West Haven girls soccer team moved to 5-6-4 on the season with a 1-1 draw against East Haven Friday evening. The road contest saw the Westies rally from behind to earn the point.

Keegan Riccio (17) against East Haven, October 19, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"We came out flat against East Haven and missed a few easy opportunities," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "We fell behind on a counter attack. East Haven plays hard and is well coached, and they caught us. We played much better in the second half, and Keegan Riccio hit a blast that tied it for us. It was a very back and forth game, and the tie was well deserved."

Tomalyn Williams (28) against East Haven, October 19, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Keegan Riccio provided the equalizer and Mackenzie Gardner made four saves in the draw.

Senior Led
Riccio, Gilmore lead Westies past Foran
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 23, 2018) - Even Mother Nature could not stop the West Haven girls soccer team on Senior Night. Despite a weather delay of one hour and 17 minutes, the Westies were able to conclude the regular season with a 1-0 victory over Foran in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision battle at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven Tuesday evening.

West Haven seniors against Foran, October 23, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
On a night where the seniors were honored prior to the contest, it was only fitting the West Haven goal came through the work of a pair of senior captains.
Just 6:21 into the contest, a perfect ball from Keegan Riccio found Kelsey Gilmore in stride and Gilmore did the rest. Gilmore broke free and ripped a shot which sailed past Foran goalkeeper Abigail Lucas and bent inside the post for a 1-0 West Haven lead.
“It was really emotional going into the game, knowing it could be our last game here as it looks as if we are going on the road in the state tournament,” Riccio said. “The energy we felt after we scored the goal was amazing.”
Gilmore’s tally was all the West Haven defense and goalkeeper Mackenzie Gardner needed. The defense held the Lions to just one shot in the delayed first half, an angled shot from Yasmina Lingane from 18 yards out, which was easily stopped by the West Haven sophomore keeper.

Kelsey Gilmore scores against Foran, October 23, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
“Our defense has just been solid all year,” West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. “It has been very good. We have done a great job limiting other teams to half chances, or shots from far out, which are easy saves. The combination of the defense and how well it has played, then having Mackenzie (Gardner) there to make the save has been great.”
The Westies (6-6-4), who now enter the postseason at .500, had the better of the play in the opening half after the delay which started with 30:30 to go in the half as a result of several lightning strikes and heavy rain.
When the skies cleared and play resumed, West Haven had two golden opportunities to pad the lead, but a shot by Riccio from 21 yards out was turned aside by Lucas, and Alexia Guerrero never got a quality shot off when breaking in with 11:06 to go in the half.
“Ending with a win is huge,” Trenchard said. “It gives us a little momentum going into the postseason. We had a tough schedule, and any win we get, we will take. Foran is a tough team. They play hard and they probably should be in the postseason, but they also have a tough schedule.”
For the Lions (4-10-2), it was the end of a season which saw a two-game winning streak snapped. The campaign saw its share of offensive struggles for the Lions, including a pair of shutout losses against West Haven.
“Offensively, we had trouble all year putting the ball in the back of the net,” Foran coach Casey Blake said. “But, these girls never gave up. They kept working hard. It is sad the season had to end. It would have been nice to play in the postseason. We can use this to build for next year.”
Despite having the lead in the second half, the Westies still put the pressure on, and held the Lions to just one shot in the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Riccio and Gilmore again had opportunities to extend the lead, but rockets by Riccio from 25 yards and 20 yards sailed just wide and over the net. Gilmore had her attempt denied by Lucas from an angle 15 yards out with 23:30 remaining.
Foran had two chances to get the equalizer in the final eight minutes, but could not get a shot on goal off a corner kick, and saw West Haven turn aside Gabriella Muoio’s set piece before it reached the goal with 5:50 to go.

Season Over
Westies fall to Amity in Class LL first round
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(November 5, 2018) - With just about two weeks to prepare for the start of the postseason, the West Haven girls soccer team had to like its chances. One thing the Westies may not have expected was the rainy weather and slick turf they would play through.

Under wet conditions, No. 24 West Haven fell in the opening round of the Class LL state tournament 3-1 against No. 9 Amity at Amity High Monday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven concludes its season at 6-7-4.

"It is bittersweet," West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. "Our goal was to make the (state) tournament. We had a tough draw against a very good Amity team. They have some very good players. We had some opportunities, but we were not able to capitalize."

West Haven against Amity, November 5, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

The Spartans took an early lead and took a 3-0 advantage before the Westies got on the scoreboard. West Haven's goal from Keegan Riccio off an assist from Kelsey Gilmore, was as close as West Haven would get despite putting on more pressure in the second half.

Mackenzie Gardner made eight saves in the loss for West Haven.

West Haven against Amity, November 5, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

"In the second half, we had some pressure, but we just could not find the back of the net," Trenchard said.

All-State players - Carlin Guarneri '96; Danielle Lacroix '99; Rebecca Sampara '07; Nicole Pacapelli '09; Gabriella Reis '11; Marisa Pacapelli '13; Marisa Pacapelli '14; Gabi Prisco '16
Retired numbers - Carlin Guarneri (Class of 1997) #1