CT Championships: Brookfield Girls Soccer Tourney Run Ends In Defeat

HARTFORD, CT — Sunday's CIAC Class M girls' soccer championship game between Brookfield and Simsbury high schools was tense, physical, and emotional.

And, after regulation time, it was scoreless. A championship was to be had.

Thanks to Simsbury senior Maxine Samson, who headed in a goal in the first overtime, the Trojans earned their eighth state championship, defeating the Bobcats, 1-0.

The championship also made for the perfect father-daughter moment, as Simsbury coach Steve Jarvis' daughter, senior Olivia Jarvis, was in goal.

Needless to say, Dad was emotional after the game.

"I feel fantastic," Steve Jarvis said. "You can't describe it. It's an unbelievable experience."

While Jarvis said his daughter's affinity for basketball might move her to play college hoops in the future, he admitted a clean sheet in a state title game could be a nice way to end her competitive soccer career.

But, he said, his daughter is good enough to play at the next level if she chooses.

As for the rest of the squad, Jarvis praised his team's resilience as they weathered wave and wave of attacking Brookfield players.

And, while a close game might cause some to think a coach would be sweating out a 1-0 game, Jarvis said he wasn't ... and it had nothing to do with the cold, 35-degree temperatures and wind.

"I love a 1-0 victory. Coaches will tell me I'm the king of the 1-0 game," Jarvis said, smiling.

He pointed out that Simsbury had won prior big games this year and last year via the 1-0 route and last year's eight ties show the Trojans are not scared of close matches.

So when SHS finally took the lead late, Jarvis wasn't worried.

"When we grabbed the lead, I brought a midfielder back, and good luck trying to score against nine players in the back," he said.

Brookfield, which had never been in such a pressure-packed contest, contrasted with Simsbury, which had won seven state championships in 14 tries prior to Sunday's victory.

Regarding Brookfield, Jarvis credited the Bobcats' stellar defense and discipline for making it a very difficult fight.

But, he said, the weather also played a role in a 0-0 game that still featured a frenzied, attacking style of play.

"The ball was swirling around and the wind was creating all kinds of havoc," Jarvis said.

Their contest marked the culmination of a weekend of CIAC girls and boys soccer championships at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, home to the Hartford Athletic pro soccer team.

For the first part of the game, third-seed Brookfield and fourth-seed Simsbury moved the ball up and down, but neither was particularly dangerous aside from a few isolated runs and long-range shots.

Halftime arrived with a 0-0 score.

The game's first big scoring chance came with 35 minutes left when Brookfield senior Rylee McGee broke loose for a one-on-one chance against Olivia Jarvis, who punched the ball away just before the two collided in the box.

Then with nearly 30 minutes to go, Brookfield, coached by Barry O'Reilly, nearly scored on a corner kick as a ball was headed just over the crossbar.

With 28 minutes left, Jarvis stopped a point-blank shot from Brookfield, which continued to attack relentlessly against the Trojan defense.

Simsbury then earned a dangerous free kick with 26 minutes to go just outside the box and in front of Brookfield's goal, but freshman Addison Girard's shot was smothered by the Brookfield wall.

With the clock under 10 minutes to go, the pace picked up as each side frenetically pushed for a title.

Ultimately the tense affair would require more time, resulting in each side's fans braving the late-autumn chill a bit longer.

Nearly four minutes in the first OT, Jarvis stopped a Brookfield shot right in front of the goal, the first serious chance for either side in extra time.

Shortly thereafter, Simsbury senior Gina Trovatowas was carried off the field with a possible leg injury following a collision with a Brookfield player.

That led to a free kick which resulted in Samson's brilliant header, ending the draw and giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead with about 3 minutes left in the first overtime.

It was a goal that garnered Samson the Most Valuable Player award for the game.

Brookfield nearly tied the game in the second OT as a shot clanked off the post, but back into the hands of Jarvis.

Later, a red card was then issued to Brookfield sophomore Grace Lent as she earned her second yellow, forcing the Bobcats to play one player down.

Shortly thereafter, a red card was issued to Simsbury, with Girard being sent off for a second yellow, resulting in both sides playing with 10 players.

In the end, Simsbury's red card didn't hurt them and the clock ticked down to a state title.

Both teams enjoyed successful regular seasons, with Brookfield earning a 13-3 record and Simsbury going 11-1 with four draws.