Raptors Soccer on the Rise

RHAM girls soccer after defeating Watertown in double overtime in the second round of the state tournament on Nov. 8. The Raptors won nine more games this season than they did in 2022. 

It was a fruitful fall for the girls soccer team at RHAM High School. 

In the program’s second season under head coach Matt Cameron, the Raptors won nine more games than they did in 2022, including a pair of state tournament games. 

Once the dust had settled, the Raptors finished 13-4-2 overall, advancing to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.

Cameron credited his departing seniors for making his second year in Hebron a memorable one, calling the group “an absolute dream.” 

“The leadership from our captains and the seniors in general set such a good example for all the younger players,” recalled Cameron. “They were amazing; they exceeded expectations.”

After winning only four games a season ago, returning seniors Ava Machowski, Amy Forrest, Kaylee Macca, Sophia Bell, Elise Leccese, Julia Kasper, Caitlin Kischell, and Kiley Stanford made the most of their final season on the local fields by helping the team win nine of their first ten games this fall. 

“We came together as a group really, really quickly. We were able to establish a style of play early on that suited the type of players we have,” stated Cameron. “We have a group that was a little more blue collar, and they had that belief and trust in each other.”  
             
Following the blazing start, Cameron noted that the team really began to show their true character once the schedule got tougher later in the season.

After suffering a 5-0 loss to Bacon Academy (the eventual Class M state champions) and a 6-1 defeat to South Windsor in back-to-back games in October, the Raptors regrouped quickly and won the final two games of the regular season.

They closed out the regular season by avenging the five-goal loss at South Windsor, beating the conference rival Bobcats 2-0 at RHAM High School on Oct. 28.

Machowski and Forrest each netted goals in the regular season finale, while goalie Andrea Bartolucci and the Raptors defense held an opponent scoreless for the ninth time. 

Cameron said the wins late in the season “created belief with the group that we had something special and that we could go on a run in the tournament.” 

Momentum carried over into the Class M state tourney where the No. 10 seeded Raptors ousted Sheehan 4-1 in the first round before going on the road and knocking off No. 7 Watertown in double overtime in the second round. 

Cameron witnessed Watertown’s first round win and knew his team would “have to play the best game of the season” to pull the upset and, despite hitting traffic on their way to the second round match that limited RHAM’s ability to warm-up, the Raptors rose to the occasion. 

“I think that distracted us, it could have helped,” Cameron said about the late arrival in Watertown. “We didn’t overthink things.”

Forrest, who scored two goals in the game, broke a 3-3 tie with 3:40 left in the second overtime when she rebounded a deflected shot and finished with a goal that snuck under the crossbar. 

Machowski was able to control the ball for the last minute of the match to secure a 4-3 victory. 

“The girls competed, they never gave up,” Cameron said of the 100-minute marathon of a match.   

Along with being the defining win of the season, Cameron added that there was a moment prior to Forrest’s game-deciding goal that represented the season as a whole. 

With time dwindling in the second overtime, the match seemed destined for penalty kicks and Cameron asked Kischell if she wanted to attempt a penalty kick if needed.

Kischell, who hadn’t played all game, began to warm up without hesitation and Cameron said that it was an example of the unselfishness and willingness of entire team. 

“All the players were important to what we did this year,” added Cameron. “It was an unbelievable group.”   

Following the season, Machowski was named to the Class M All-State team after leading the team in goals (27) and total points (63) this fall.

But Cameron said that her statistics are just part of the story. 

“She does everything,” added Cameron. “She comes back and defends, she is our best hitter, she can kill the game, [and] she can occupy two and three players at a time.”

Along with being named all-state, Machowski was one of two Raptors named All-Central Connecticut Conference (CCC). Forrest was also named all-conference after leading the team with a dozen assists this fall. 

With a handful of starters graduating, Cameron said they will rely on the experience the younger players gained this season as they head into year three within his system.  

Freshman Liana Fox, who scored nine goals in her first season, and sophomore Brenna D'Amico will return to pace the offense, while Bartolucci is again slated to start in goal next fall to head the defense.

​“Next year we won’t have an Ava and we might have to change formation,” added Cameron. “But we won’t change who we are.”