Norwich Free Academy girls soccer building momentum for postseason
With a lineup of veteran leaders, speedy forwards, and rock-solid defenders, it’s easy to see why the Norwich Free Academy girls soccer team has already qualified for the Class LL state tournament. It is the Wildcats fifth straight trip to the Big Dance under the guidance of head coach Taylor Shannon.
NFA’s strengths, however, are powered by a subtle intangible this fall. You could see it during the Wildcats’ close wins over Woodstock Academy and Ledyard; during a pair of tough losses against East Lyme and Masuk; and again last Thursday night during a thrilling 1-1 tie against fifth-ranked Waterford in Norwich.
“It’s our will as a collective group and our will to just compete this year,” Shannon said. “In the past we were a little bit weaker with just our drive and our edge. We have an edge this year that I love. It’s just a good cohesive group.”
That “edge” started percolating last November on the bus ride home from Simsbury where the Wildcats lost in heartbreaking fashion (9-8 PKs) in the opening round of the Class LL tourney.
“We’ve got high expectations, especially after the state tournament game last year,” Shannon said. “Three rounds of penalty kicks? I’ve never seen that. That gave me some hope for this year. We had a good core group coming back.”
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The Wildcats veteran group is led by senior captain Jordan Fabry, who earned All-State honors from the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association last season.
Fabry gets the Wildcats offense in gear from the midfield.
“I try to do as much as I can,” Fabry said. “I try to play balls through and make sure we come together and relax, reset and refocus.”
Fabry has also scored a number of key goals. She had a highlight reel goal against Bacon Academy, scoring on a 42-yard direct kick with 9:30 left in regulation to tie the Bobcats in an eventual 1-1 draw. She scored the game-winning goal in a hard fought 1-0 win over Woodstock Academy and added an unassisted second half score in last Saturday’s 2-1 win against Ledyard.
“I think we’re capable of making a run in the ECCs,” Fabry said.
Fabry’s father, Ryan, the longtime boys head coach at Lyman Memorial who guided the Bulldogs to a state title in 2002, has been a Wildcats assistant coach for the past three seasons.
“I love having him on the sideline,” Jordan said. “He’s coached for a really long time so it’s good to have that experience there.”
Team leaders
The Wildcats improved to 6-2-2 following the win over Ledyard. They have outscored opponents, 31-10. NFA’s defense of junior Leah Burchman, junior Hailey Iozzia, sophomore Emmy Winton, junior Audrey Lacy, senior Emily Tucker, sophomore Colbie Gisleson, and junior goalkeeper Ava Boenig have posted three shutouts and finished five games allowing just one goal.
Powering the Wildcats offense along with Fabry is junior Hayleigh Young, who had a hat trick in the win against Ellington, junior Chloe Green, who scored two goals apiece in wins over Fitch and Stonington, senior Brooke Bolles, who had a pair of goals against Fitch, senior Alex Tabilas, and junior Sadie Daniewicz, who notched a hat trick in a season-opening win against Hamden.
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Top newcomer
The Wildcats are hoping junior Avery Quesnel is back for the postseason. Quesnel, a transfer from Portland, suffered a concussion against East Lyme early in the season. She has also been recovering from a leg injury. Her father, Nathan Quesnel, is NFA’s newly appointed Head of School.
“She came in and has been a big help for us,” Jordan Fabry said.
Ending tourney drought
The Wildcats have played some of the top teams in the state in the Class LL tournament over the past few seasons, losing some tough contests, including in overtime and penalty kicks, while never getting past the first round.
NFA’s last state tournament win came against West Haven in 2009. The Wildcats topped the Blue Devils, 3-2, on PKs (4-2).
Could this be the year the drought ends?
The Wildcats were impressive while holding off high-powered and fifth-ranked Waterford until the Lancers’ Adyson Wiseman tied it at 1 with just 25 seconds left in regulation. The teams played two scoreless 10-minute overtime sessions.
NFA missed a couple of good scoring opportunities in the second half to take a two-goal advantage.
"I wanted them to leave it all on the field and play with your heart, that’s the most important thing, and they did tonight,” Shannon said. “There were just some little things, we couldn't connect, but it will come. We won a spot in the state tournament so little odds and ends that come out of games like this is what we try to dwell on and being positive and just keeping some momentum going.”
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich Free Academy girls soccer has eyes on postseason run
