Stamford FC 2013 Girls Honored for U12 Connecticut Cup Championship

On Saturday, August 23, the Stamford FC 2013 Girls Soccer Team was honored at Trinity Health Stadium before the Hartford Athletic USL match for winning the Spring 2025 Connecticut Cup. The night was one more chance to celebrate a monumental accomplishment before the team begins its new season.

This is only the second time a Stamford FC Girls team has brought the Connecticut Cup Championship Trophy back to Stamford. Winning the championship was as rewarding as it was difficult for the U12 team. This group of dedicated girls, along with their head coach Brian Coronado, had been building toward this moment for five years, demonstrating their ability to overcome adversity to achieve a goal.

Just one year ago, in the spring of 2024, the team experienced its first losing season. Instead of getting discouraged, the team stuck together, worked even harder, and got back on track. In the fall of 2024, Stamford FC made it to the District Semifinal and the Connecticut Cup Final but lost both games in heartbreaking fashion. After the Connecticut Cup Final, Coach Coronado implored his disappointed team to watch South Windsor pose for their championship photo. "This can be you in the spring," he told them.

The team took the message to heart and was on a mission. Heading into the CT Cup final, Stamford was 19-0 in the spring across league play and tournaments, having not trailed in any game all season. Their strength was tested early when a highly skilled Simsbury team took a 1-0 lead. Just one minute later, goalie Samantha 'Sammi' Merchant made a diving save to keep the team in the game and shift the momentum. Nothing got by Sammi after that play.

Late in the first half, after two great saves by Simsbury’s goalkeeper off a penalty kick, Bailee Wahren persisted and converted a goal to even the score. From that point on, Stamford put a lot of pressure on Simsbury, but the game remained tied until only 30 seconds were left in the second overtime. Kaia Torres-Maginot then earned a penalty kick after getting fouled in the penalty box following a tremendous clearing pass from Giuliana DiPietro. Aviana Pirri then cashed it in with a dramatic penalty kick goal, slotting it into the right corner. Time expired seconds later, and the celebration was on.

Along the way, Stamford defeated West Hartford 4-1, their long-time rival Newtown 2-1 in a very intense match, Watertown 4-0, and New Milford 3-0 in the CT Cup. Stamford’s defense, composed of Maya Ladd, Nia Gizicki, and Sophia Shymun, was stingy all season long. Their experience and skill, along with Sammi’s clutch goalkeeping, resulted in the team conceding only three goals in five CT Cup games.

Giuliana ‘Gigi’ Pirri, made her presence felt all over the field in the Final from the very first minute. Midfielders Samara Guttman, Alexa Hughes, Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Olivera, and Sofia Marenco successfully kept the ball on the offensive side of the field with skilled dribbling, passing, and superior throw-ins. Addison ‘Adie’ Barnes displayed her notorious relentlessness, one week after scoring a huge goal in the semifinal. Newcomer Adriana Pereira provided the necessary depth and skill to win a grueling two-month-long tournament. Long-time contributor Anika Hall had to support the team from the bench due to an injury suffered the prior week. Her contributions during the tournament cannot be ignored; her teammates were thrilled she was able to join them and be part of the celebration.

The following day, the team won their last league game to finish the spring season with a 21-0 record, a state title, a district title, and two tournament titles. It was a special season the team will never forget, and it will be a bond these sixteen girls will forever share.

Under the guidance of Girls Director of Coaching, Tony Crocco, The Stamford FC Girls program is in the midst of a great run. In 2023, the U19 girls won the first ever CT Cup by a girls’ team in club history. In this spring’s CT Cup, Stamford teams went a combined 11-3, with the U11 and U13 teams reaching the quarterfinals and the U15 team reaching the semifinals.