The Holy Cross girls soccer program hadn’t had much success in state championship games, until 2019.
On a sunny November day at New Britain’s Veterans Stadium, the Crusaders needed just one goal to knock Old Lyme, which had won or shared the previous four Class S state championships. Devon Bushka, then a sophomore, scored off an assist from senior Sophia Vescera. Senior keeper Tori Schaffner bagged eight saves for Holy Cross, which won its first state championship that day in New Britain. There were four tries before for the Crusaders, with each ending in a loss.
Instead of trying to break a championship losing streak, Holy Cross will be looking for two straight championships on Sunday when it plays Northwest Catholic of West Hartford at 1 p.m. at Dillon Stadium in Hartford. The No. 2 Crusaders defeated No. 15 East Granby (2-0), No. 10 Thomaston (5-1) and No. 6 Somers (3-0) to reach the final. The No. 24 Lions defeated No. 9 Immaculate (2-1), No. 8 Housatonic Regional (4-1), No. 17 Lyman Memorial-Lebanon (3-0) and No. 12 Coginchaug Regional-Durham (4-0) to make the final.
In 2019, seniors Sophia Vescera, Tori Schaffner, Alyssa Milburn and Carina Cornacchia left the Holy Cross girls soccer program with a state championship. On Sunday, current seniors Alexa Diorio, Isabella Marzano, Maeve Perrone, Devon Bushka, Ella Atkins and Avery O’Connell hope to do the same.
HOLY CROSS
Seed: 2
Record: 18-3-1
Championship history: 1-4 all-time – 2019: 1-0 win over Old Lyme in Class S (at Veterans Stadium, New Britain); 2017: 1-2 loss in 2 OT to Old Lyme in Class S (at Rosek-Skubel Stadium, Middletown); 2006: 0-1 loss to Suffield in Class M at Rocky Hill High School; 2005: 1-4 loss to Suffield (at Veterans Stadium, New Britain); 1997: 1-4 loss to New Canaan in Class M.
Last time: Holy Cross downed Old Lyme, 1-0, in the 2019 Class S final at Veterans Stadium in New Britain. Devon Bushka, a senior on this year’s championship finalist, scored the only goal in that 2019 game off an assist from Sophia Vescera. Tori Schaffner tallied eight saves for the clean sheet.
NORTHWEST CATHOLIC
Seed: 24
Record: 10-8-2
Championship history: 3-0-1 all-time – 2015: 2-0 win over Enfield in Class M (at Falcon Field, Meriden); 2012: 4-1 win over St. Joseph-Trumbull in Class M (at Municipal Stadium, Waterbury); 2011: 4-0 win over Granby Memorial in Class M (at Rosek-Skubel Stadium, Middletown); 2009: 0-0 co-champions with Suffield in Class M (at Rosek-Skubel Stadium, Middletown)
Last time: Rachel Elliott and Bailey Julian each scored a goal for the then Indians in their 2-0 win over Enfield in the Class M final at Falcon Field in Meriden. Rebecca Molin made four saves for the clean sheet that day.
Photo caption: The Holy Cross girls soccer team goes for its second straight state championship on Sunday in Hartford. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
