Five West Hartford Travel Soccer Teams Reach Connecticut Cup Finals

On Saturday, June 18, and unprecedented number of West Hartford Travel Soccer teams will be participating in the finals of the Spring Connecticut Cup.

Four teams from the boys travel program have made it to the finals this year. U11, U14, U15, and U16 teams from West Hartford have reached the finals with victories over teams from all over the state, and there are high hopes for a number of championships on Saturday.

The U14 Girls Huskies will take on the Tolland Lightning on Saturday in their first appearance in the Connecticut Cup finals. They are coached by Julio Morales. Fans are being asked to “Wear red and show your team spirit!”

Roger Giraldo coaches both the U15 and U16 boys. The current U16 team made it to the semi-finals last year, and Giraldo credits the hard work and effort of the players for this season’s success. “We [have been] preparing since the winter,” Giraldo said. “We did indoor soccer at FSA. This is the result of what we did.”

This is Girlado’s first time coaching the U15 boys, although he knew some of them from an indoor soccer team he also coaches. “They learned to work as a team and they managed to get to the finals of the Connecticut Cup. I am very proud that the two teams are in the finals and I expect to win it,” Giraldo said.

Veteran coach Terry Phillip, who coaches with his son Terry Phillip, Jr. has been coaching in the West Hartford Boys Travel program for 16 years and has amassed a very successful record. His U11 boys team won the Connecticut Cup last fall. Many players on the current U14 team were part of the U12 team that beat Suffield 2-1 in 2009 to win the first Connecticut Cup for West Hartford since 2002.

John Monnes, who serves as director of the West Hartford Youth Soccer League Travel Division, said he is very excited about the recent success of the travel program.

“Our program has doubled in size over the last 5 years.  We currently have over 200 kids participating in the program, with 16 teams from U9 to U16 age groups. West Hartford is one of the few programs in the state that provides professional coaching for the kids.”

Monnes credits the certified professional coaches, most of whom have a great deal of playing experience as well, with success in teaching the kids fundamentals beginning at an early age.  “As our players get older and continue to learn, our teams tend to excel. Most importantly, our kids are enjoying learning the game, and telling their friends how much fun they are having, that is why the program is growing so fast,” said Monnes.

All Connecticut Cup finals will take place on Saturday, June 18 at Curtiss Park in Simsbury. For a complete schedule, visit the West Hartford Youth Soccer Association website, www.westhartfordsoccer.net.