Seniors lead Tolland girls to semifinals
Riggott,Papa key win over Wethersfield
The seniors on Tolland’s girls soccer team have been a driving force for the Eagles this season. It was no different in their Class L quarterfinal game Friday afternoon at Tolland High.
Tolland got a measure of revenge on CCCrival Wethersfield in a1-0 win to earn a trip to next week’s semifin- als, behind the work up front of seniors Eva Riggott and Lindsey Papa.
“We’ve been working and playing together since third grade,” Papa said. “Ever since sophomore year, these 10 seniors have been working hard. This is our year to shine and it’s nice to get the opportunity.”
With 4:17 left in the first half, Papa, working toward the Wethersfield net, flicked the ball back to Riggott, who buried it from deep into the upper right corner. The lone goal proved to be enough for Tolland.
“I just took a shot with left [foot] and went top right with it. I was just so happy,” Riggott said. “We’ve been working so hard and it’s finally paying off. We were hungry [to get the win back] so we’re happy about it.”
Tolland, the No. 2 seed in Class L, had lost just twice in the regular season. But one of those came at the hands of Wethersfield, 2-0, back on Oct. 9.
“We don’t go into any game expecting to win, even one we had won previously,” Wethersfield coach Emily Fanelli said. “We knew they were a good team, so it was going to be a fight no matter what the score was the first time.”
Wethersfield, seeded seventh, had its chances in both halves of Friday’s game, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Tolland kept the pressure on in the second half and didn’t give Wethersfield much opportunity to generate offense.
“There were a lot of things I gave them to work on specifically for this game and we just didn’t do everything,” Fanelli said. “We didn’t win many 50-50 balls and throw-ins. If we had hustled a bit more, it might have been a different outcome.”
The best opportunity for a Wethersfield goal came late in the second half on a breakaway.
Tolland keeper Kelsey Leach, another senior, came out deep and managed to get a hand on a potential game-tying shot, deflecting it wide right.
“Any time a goalie is out that far, it makes a coach’s heart beat faster,” Tolland coach Erin Reed said. “But she’s experienced and I trust her judgement as a rule. She’s got long arms and quick reflexes, so that’s her game.”
Tolland will now focus on the semifinal game on Monday against No. 3 Watertown. The Eagles find themselves back in the semifinals for the first time since 2016 when they reached the Class M semis in Reed’s first season.
“[Going into Monday] we’re going to work on how to connect on the outside to get up [the field],” Reed said.
“And I also want to teach them to play with a lead, especially when the other team starts to counterattack. During the tournament, you have to go for it.”