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WH falls in Opener
Amity posts 5-1 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 9, 2023) - The West Haven girls soccer team opened the season with a 5-1 loss against Amity. The Westies struggle to gain any consistency in the match in the opening loss.
Freshman Amiyah Jones scored the lone goal for the Westies. Sophomore Ericka Tighe made 11 saves in the loss.
“It was her (Jones) varsity debut and she scored from defense by beating eight players,” West Haven coach Kyle Brown said. “It was a beautiful play from her.”

Westies top Shelton
Powell leads way in first win of season
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 11, 2023) - West Haven bounced back from its opening day loss with a 2-1 victory at Shelton. Junior Jaylyn Powell scored both West Haven goals, but it was a team effort which produced the victory.
Ericka Tighe made 12 saves, and the Westies received solid efforts from Abigail Phelan, Niamh Chesson, Liv Trenchard, Arianna Izzo, Katelyn Selgado, and Chloe Whelan.

“Jaylyn Powell had two amazing goals,” West Haven coach Kyle Brown said. “She (Powell) played great at forward. Abby Phelan had her best varsity performance in her time playing for me, securing the outside midfield spacing we needed to be successful. Niamh Chesson, Olivia Trenchard, and Ariana Izzo secured the center mid positions to allow for Jaylyn (Powell) and Abby (Phelan) to be great.
“Defensively, Katelynn Salgado, a new starter, and Chloe Whelan, whose season ended short last year with injuries, played amazing for us in the back and limited their attempts as much as possible.”

Slow Start
Westies looking to find their way
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 27, 2023) - The West Haven girls soccer team is off to a slow start this season. After going 1-2-1 in the last four games, the Westies now stand at 2-4-2 on the year.
West Haven traveled to Foran and came away with a 1-1 tie. Jaylyn Powell rescued the Westies from a slow start with a goal to give the Westies the draw.
“We came out flat in the first half, but we brought it in the second half,” West Haven coach Kyle Brown said.
The Westies then traveled to play Mercy a day later and fell 8-0 in a game dominated by the Tigers. Ericka Tighe made 12 saves in the loss.
West Haven rebounded to play a solid contest, but fell in a home match with North Haven, 2-1.
“We played our most complete game yet,” Brown said. “They scored, but we got it right back. Then they got one more, which left them with the momentum.”
West Haven’s tying goal was scored by Amiyah Jones with the assist going to Powell.
“We are honestly in a large rebuild after losing 10 seniors last year,” Brown said. “The juniors will get better and next year, we will come out strong. With only four seniors back, two of which got varsity time last year, our inexperience in a lot of these games has been evident. But, the growth of the team is there. We weren't a team to bounce back in previous seasons, and this year we have made the conscience effort to keep our heads high. Twice we have scored equalizer goals, against Foran and North Haven, which has been a struggle for us in the past.”
West Haven improved to 2-4-1 with a 6-0 victory over Lyman Hall. Jones led the Westies with three goals, Jaylyn Powell had two goals and an assist, and Abigail Phelan also scored.
Olivia Trenchard, Ariana Izzo, and Powell each had individual assists on the three goals by Jones. Powell scored an unassisted goal, and also had a goal off an assist from Llyanna Griffith.

Abigail Phelan also scored, with an assist going to Chloe Whelan.

Stunning Comeback
Westies rally past Lauralton
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 4, 2023) - The West Haven girls soccer team overcame a late deficit with a stunning rally to defeat Lauralton Hall 4-3 in Milford Monday afternoon. With the victory, West Haven inched closer to the .500 mark and improved to 3-4-1 on the year.
“We had the best comeback I have seen in West Haven soccer,” West Haven coach Kyle Brown said. “We were down two goals with 20 minutes left. We scored three straight goals to win. The last goal came in the last minute.”
Jaylyn Powell led the way with two goals, Amiyah Jones and Ariana Izzo (penalty kick) also scored, while Ariana Izzo, Annabelle Pasacreta, and Ilyanna Griffith each added an assist.
Izzo and Pasacreta picked up helpers on the goals by Powell, while Griffith assisted on the tally by Jones.

The Westies could not build off that momentum as they suffered a 7-2 road loss against Amity two days later.

Postseason Bound
Late surge propels Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 27, 2023) - After a slow start to the season, the West Haven girls soccer team qualified for the postseason with two draws and a pair of wins in its last four games of the regular season.
The Westies began their run to the postseason with a 1-1 draw at North Haven. Jaylyn Powell scored the lone West Haven goal as the Westies inched closer to the postseason.
After a 3-3 tie at Lyman Hall, the Westies returned home and used victories over Lauralton Hall and Foran to qualify.
In the 3-1 victory over Lauralton Hall on Senior Night, Powell, Abigail Phelan, and Ariana Izzo scored for the Westies.

The Westies capped the run with a 4-2 victory over Foran. After Izzo gave the Westies an early lead, Powell scored twice, and Amiyah Jones also scored to clinch the postseason bid as West Haven improved to 5-8-3.

GIRLS SOCCER 2023

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