The Starting Five: Athletes of the Week

Gillian Fernstrom- Rocky Hill (Soccer): Fernstrom is a defender/midfielder who head coach Annmarie Catania said is a great leader on and off the field with an “unbelievable skill in the back field” adding, she “plays tough, is hard working, and very consistent.”
 
The senior captain, who is a member of the National Honors society, helped lead the Terriers to four straight wins to close the regular season and qualify for postseason play. Fernstrom and the team received help from a couple of newcomers. 
 
Freshman goalie Emelia Pacheco-Hager, who allowed only 13 goals this season and had 154 saves, did not allow a goal during the four-game winning streak. Catania said her keeper is strong physically and mentally, adding “she flies around the goal area like a cat.”
 
Fellow freshman Kaitlyn Pereau was a force offensively, totaling seven goals and Catania said she “plays with heart and finds the back of the net when needed most.”
 
Bella Bonfiglio- Wethersfield (Soccer): Bonfiglio scored the game’s only goal as Wethersfield girls soccer defeated Newington (1-0) at NHS on Nov. 2 as the Eagles earned a share of the conference title. The junior’s goal helped the team avenge a 2-1 loss to the Nor’easters at WHS on Oct. 5 and the goalie duo of Riley Ford and Vanessa Venditti secured the seventh shutout of the season.     
 
Beckham Alderucci- Newington (Soccer): Alderucci scored two goals as Newington knocked off Wethersfield 3-1 in the regular season finale at WHS on Nov. 2. The junior’s goals helped the Nor’easters erase a 1-0 deficit after Wethersfield’s Sam Johnson scored a goal in the first 16 seconds of the match. Following the early goal, Newington keeper Dakota Hawes was flawless, saving a handful of shots. Senior Christian Amaral had two assists and senior Trey Guest added the other goal for Newington, who finished the regular season 9-4-2.  
 
Brady Stevenson- Xavier (Soccer): Stevenson was named the Southern Connecticut Conference Player of the Year after helping lead Xavier to an SCC title, which ended with a dramatic 1-0 win over Cheshire in double overtime. Junior Finn Russell scored the game-winner with 16.3 seconds remaining in the second extra session after receiving a pass from senior Ryan Gerry.
   
Mike Bohlke- Newington (Cross Country): Bohlke finished fourth at the Class L finals and then duplicated that feat, finishing fourth at the State Open last Friday (Nov. 5). The senior earned his third straight All-State recognition after running a blazing time of 15:29 (averaging a 5-minute mile) during the State Open.