Cheshire Soccer Players Near End Of College Careers

August 20, 2009 by Greg Lederer

The class of 2006 made a lasting impact on the Cheshire High School girls’ soccer program. Cheshire had never won a Housatonic Division, Southern Connecticut Conference, or Class LL championship until the deep group of 12 players came into their own as sophomores. They earned multiple all-star selections en route to becoming the first class to graduate with two state titles.
“That was awesome,” said mid-fielder Tracey Colantonio, a 2005 captain with Lauren Olsen and Jackie Fede. “Our class had that friendship on and off the field. It was amazing to change the program as a group.”
Their chemistry was evident when five classmates came back together this summer. Colantonio (Manhattan College-Riverdale, New York), along with Fede (University of Rhode Island-Kingston), Olsen (Trinity College), Erin Conrod (Southern Connecticut State University), and Kelly Murnane (Western New England-Springfield, Mass.) rejoined 2007 graduate Lauren Nowakowski (Fordham University-Bronx, New York) on the South Central Premier League U-23 team.
“I can’t really explain it,” stated Conrod. “I love it because we haven’t played together since senior year (at CHS). It’s always fun playing with the girls I grew up with.”
Time has flown by for them. The girls have transferred passion to their respective collegiate teams and feel a sense of urgency for a fast approaching senior season. Fede, a standout goalkeeper, has junior eligibility after a broken collarbone wiped out her freshman season.
“I’m so excited about it, but sad because it’s my last season of competitive soccer,” Colantonio said.
Colantonio recalls her first college appearance like it was yesterday. Inserted into the second game of the 2006 season, she tallied her first goal during a 3-0 victory at the College of the Holy Cross.
“It was awesome because I was told that I wouldn’t play much during my freshman year,” recalled Colantonio. “Just starting my college career like that, was my favorite memory.”
She has played in every game since and returns among 18 letter winners. The Jaspers compiled a 7-8-3 record last year and seek to take another step forward under Head Coach Sean Driscoll.
“I want to win a MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) championship and go to the NCAA (tournament),” said Colantonio, who has developed a close bond with six classmates. “I think the camaraderie off the field transfers over. I think our chemistry is reflected in our play.”
Manhattan’s rivalry with Fordham allows her to play against Nowakowski. The teams will meet again on Sept. 18.
“It’s really cool,” said Colantonio, who has tallied five career assists. “On the field, you don’t think about it. You hug them when the game is over.”
Longtime Cheshire Assistant Coach Pete Case enjoyed utilizing Olsen’s skill set. A solid mid-fielder at Trinity, she has added two goals and three assists over 34 games. Olsen tallied a game-winning goal during her sophomore season and helped the Bantams (New England Small College Athletic Conference) earn a 9-6 record. She will be a senior tri-captain under Head Coach Michael Smith.
“She was a multi-faceted player,” said Case, of Olsen. “Her work rate was so dynamic. Conditioning wasn’t as critical for that class because they were already in great shape.”
Conrod provides similar versatility by playing forward, mid-field, and defensive back for SCSU Head Coach Adam Cohen. A consistent player over her career, she led the Owls with five goals in 2007. SCSU is coming off a 12-5-2 season and returns seven seniors as well.
“It meant more that I scored (three) game winning goals,” said Conrod, of her sophomore season. “I moved around during my sophomore year and then mostly played defense as a junior.”
Summer league helped prepare Conrod for her senior season. She traveled abroad for the first time last spring, spending a semester with Murnane in Florence, Italy. The friends did play intramural soccer together.
“That was fun. Kelly and I usually play summer league together,” explained Conrod, who worked back from an injury this summer. “Time has gone so fast being overseas. I can’t believe I’m going to be a senior.”
“It made our friendship that much closer,” said Murnane. “We will share that for our whole lives.”
Murnane chose to switch sports after her first two years at WNEC. She hadn’t played tennis since her senior year at CHS, yet the transition was seamless. Murnane compiled a 21-5 record between singles and doubles, earning WNEC Athlete of the Week last September.
“It was tough to leave the team because soccer was such a big part of my life,” said Murnane. “I’m having fun playing tennis. The girls and coach are very nice, so it was an easy transition.”
Murnane has a special place in CHS soccer history. The first state title back in 2003 was secured when Murnane slipped past the defense and scored the lone goal against Fairfield.
“It was great. All of our hard work paid off. We were by far the fittest team because we ran all the time,” recalled Murnane. “It was a great way to finish against a good team.”
“It came off of a shot from Rachel (Schuyler) on the right side. Kelly was in the right position to get the deflection,” explained Case. “That was the beginning of the dream team atmosphere. It came a year before we expected because we had only one senior (captain Ashley Schuyler). It was magic.”
Case recalls making a special trip prior to taking the bus to Willowbrook Park in New Britain.
“The amazing thing about that game was that we took the girls in both (CHS West and East) gyms,” said Case. “We told them to look up at the banners and asked what was missing? They were determined to make history that night.”
The 1-0 victory stood up in large part due to the play of Fede. A four-year starter and first player to earn All-Housatonic each season, Fede established herself as the strongest goalkeeper in school history. She graduated with records for shutouts (single-season, 11; career, 36) and lowest goals against average (single-season, .410; career, .500). The Rams used her consistency to earn their second state title in 2005, sharing the Class LL crown with Simsbury following overtime (2-2).
“I think it’s amazing to have a freshman goalkeeper stay healthy for four years,” said Case.
Fede earned the varsity spot for her first game at URI and had a shutout going until she was injured at the 59th minute. She returned to start over the last two years. Rhode Island, coached by former goalie Zac Shaw, competes in the Atlantic-10 Conference.
“One of the prettiest plays I saw her make was a horizontal two-hand save,” Case recalled. “You don’t see that from a goalkeeper her age.”
Cheshire has since developed into a powerhouse, winning five of the last six Housatonic titles and four SCC crowns over that span. They fell just short (1-0; overtime) to Trumbull in the 2008 Class LL title game.
“I went back and watched the final last year,” added Conrod. “It was a different feeling because I remember being out there. We started something special for Cheshire soccer.”
“The success has been about keeping the chemistry going,” said Case. “You can have all the talent, but if you don’t get along, it won’t matter.”
Conrod won’t forget the record-setting season in 2003. After dropping the opener, the Rams wouldn’t lose again and experienced many exciting victories.
“I scored the game-winner in the final 30 seconds (against Amity High School) and that trumps any soccer memory from my life,” Conrod remembered.
The whole championship experience stood out for Case.