MONROE, CT — Wearing special pink uniforms, Masuk High’s girls soccer team assisted the battle against cancer, while taking on South-West Conference rival Brookfield in a 1-1 tie under on and off misty conditions Tuesday night.
This was an important clash between teams vying for one of the top four SWC spots and a quarterfinal home game in the upcoming conference tournament.
Both Masuk and Brookfield are in a battle of a handful of teams in contention for one of the top four spots.
Clare Fulchino scored, set up by Mimi Stephens and Ella McGee in the first half.
Masuk continued to pressure the Brookfield defense throughout much of the second half, including a pair of corner kick chances, but could not add to the lead.
Brookfield tied the game late in regulation to salvage the tie.
“The girls played hard. I definitely think we were the stronger team. They dominated,” Masuk Coach Katy Kreiner said of her players, adding that a rare breakdown in the back led to the equalizer.
The Panthers got strong play across the field with center back Julia Hourigan, holding midfielder Alex Cecchino and wing/striker Liv Fanning playing especially well, the coach noted.
Masuk improved to 10-1-3 overall and has just one SWC game left: Thursday’s Senior Night battle with Joel Barlow at 7 p.m. The team closes out the regular season Monday at Wilton at 6 p.m. Then it is on to the playoffs.
Masuk may have settled for a tie and preferred a better outcome, but it was a win of sorts for the Panther program which supported the Hope and Strength Foundation, a nonprofit providing a scholarship to a student who has been impacted by cancer, as well as Think Pink Monroe, which helps town families impacted by breast cancer.
“It hits home,” said Kreiner, referring to Ella McGee’s mom, Erin, winning her battle with cancer. “It’s an important cause for us.”
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