The boys of fall most certainly are the Wilton Soccer Association’s U11 team, a group of 5th graders who have made it to the finals of the Connecticut Cup.
You can’t argue the fact that these boys are very good. They’ve had a lot of success–as of Sunday when GOOD Morning Wilton spoke with Jayme Casey, one of the team’s parent managers, they were undefeated in regular league play as well as in the CT Cup competition.
That’s right: simultaneously, they’re doing regular league play and competing in the CT Cup.
“You play your Cup games on Saturdays, and your travel schedule on Sundays. For little guys–they’re still only 10 or 11 years old, they’re playing at least two games a week, plus two practices, which is what everyone does, but it’s a fair amount of soccer,” Casey said.
As for the CT Cup, the competition started with 74 teams around the state, and ends next Saturday, Nov. 1, with the final two–Wilton will face next-door-neighbor Westport in the final game.
Because both teams are in the same league, Wilton has met Westport on the pitch twice already during regular season play–and was victorious both times. “Ironically we’re the final two in the state. There are some good friends on that Westport team too–some of the boys play in a third league, believe it or not, with the premier developmental CT Rush league. They do know each other pretty well and are friendly,” Casey said.
The U11 boys owe a lot of their success to how well they’ve gelled over years of playing together.
“For the most part, it’s a core group that’s been playing for the last four years together, and have been playing on the travel team for three. This is the first year where they can enter the Connecticut Cup. They’ve had a lot of success in the past, but until now they didn’t have the opportunity to enter the state cup–this is the first year they were eligible,” Casey explained.
He added that even with the previous wins over Westport, the team is trying not to be too overconfident. “I think everyone is very excited, they’re excited to play some friends, and maybe because they’ve known them in the past it takes a little of the pressure off. And they’ve had close games so it will be a challenge for both sides.”
It will be the coach’s challenge to make sure any overconfidence gets reigned in. The U11 coach is Micky Canning, from Soccer Extreme, and Casey says Canning does a great job. “He’s wonderful. The boys really respond to him well, and they’ve had a lot of fun, more than anything. That’s the first thing we all say–as long as they’re having fun, it’s worthwhile. So far it’s been that way. We’re all really happy.”
Cheer on the boys at the CT Cup Finals next Saturday, Nov. 1, 12:30 p.m. at the Farmington Sports Arena, 11 Executive Dr. in Farmington.
Pictured above, all L-R: Top Row: Coach Micky Canning, Jack Lynch, Conor Lillis, Tyler Moody, Zarius Eusebe, Parker Woodring, Max Andrews
Bottom Row: Malcolm McCormick, Jack Dodman, Tyler Casey, Dillon Mannix, Christian Furst, Andrew Zizzadoro, Owen English