The Holy Cross girls and boys soccer teams will have already made history on Saturday when they take to the pitch of New Britain’s Veterans Stadium.
Holy Cross will be the first Waterbury school to compete for both state
soccer championships on the same day on the same field. The Crusader girls play in the Class S state championship at 10 a.m., followed by the boys in the Class S final at 12:30 p.m. Holy Cross green and gold will be prevalent colors among the fans gathered in the Hardware City.
Here’s more on each matchup, starting with the girls:
No. 3 Holy Cross (18-1-2) vs. No. 8 Old Lyme (14-3-4)
The Crusaders and Wildcats met in the 2017 final at Middletown High School’s Rosek-Skubel Stadium. Holy Cross lost, 2-1, in overtime to Old Lyme, which has won four straight Class S state championships.
The teams played in the 2015 Class S semifinal, which Old Lyme won, 4-0, in
Middletown. The Wildcats shared the Class S championship with Notre
Dame-Fairfield that year.
Holy Cross has appeared in four state championship matches (2017, 2006,
2005, 1997) and is looking for its first title. Old Lyme has appeared in eight
state championship matches (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2009, 2004, 1995, 1985) and as won or shared the title five times (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2009).
Holy Cross started the 2019 tournament with a bye, then beat No. 14 Stafford, 6-2, in the second round. Sophomore Devon Bushka scored and junior Alyssa Hebb each scored two goals while freshman Juliana Dane and junior Alana Snow added a goal apiece.
Holy Cross dispatched sixth-seeded Coventry, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round.
Dane, senior Sophia Vescera and Bushka scored for the Crusaders.
In Wednesday’s semifinal against seventh-seeded Litchfield, Dane, Bushka and Vescera each scored a goal.
No. 3 Holy Cross (17-3-2) vs. No. 5 Old Saybrook (17-2-4)
The Crusaders and Rams have not met in the state tournament. Holy Cross
played in one other state final in 1985, which it lost, 2-1, to E.O. Smith
(Storrs) in New Britain. Old Saybrook has played in eight state championship games (2018, 2016, 1998, 1994, 1983, 1982, 1979, 1956) and has won or shared the title five times (2018, 1983, 1982, 1979, 1956).
Holy Cross started the 2019 tournament with a 3-0 win over No. 30 East
Granby in the first round. Seniors Brian Silva and Thomas Pompei each scored a goal, as did junior Luke Zipoli.
Holy Cross defeated No. 19 Bolton, 4-1, in the second round. Senior Jack
Villano, Silva, senior Luciano D’Amelio and freshman Kevin Matiz scored for the Crusaders.
In the quarterfinal round, Holy Cross downed No. 6 Coginchaug, 1-0. D’Amelio scored off an assist from junior Giuseppe Mongelluzzo, and sophomore keeper Cameron Sivilla made eight saves.
Holy Cross needed penalty kicks to oust No. 15 Immaculate, 3-2 (4-1 PK), in
the semifinal round. D’Amelio and junior Gennaro Genua scored in regulation. Mongelluzzo, Silva, junior Kadin Talho and junior Colin Harrigan scored on penalty kicks.
