By Jocelyn Maria Thomas
The Rocky Hill girls’ soccer team has made an exciting new comeback this year, successfully graduating to CIAC fall championship season. Some of the success can be attributed to the addition of two new freshmen.
“They are really joined on and off the field this year. It is nice to see,” coach Annmarie Catania, former Rocky Hill goalie herself, said of Kaitlyn Pereau and Emelia Pacheco-Hager, both freshmen who play with flair and have bright futures ahead of them.
With significant progress being made this tournament season through an exciting win against Tolland county, the team is stronger than ever.
“Both are driven to play their best and to get better. They are able to take constructive criticism which allows them to grow and excel much quicker than those who do not take that well,” Catania said.
“Kaitlyn has scored goals, and Emme has not allowed goals to be scored on us. They make a nice team,” Catania added.
Rose Blair, one of the team captains, said, “They both play off-season, and have been playing together since they were young. They have a close connection, and they just love the sport wholeheartedly.”
Team co-captain, Gillian Fernstrom, said, “Kaitlyn’s freekicks are how we scored. Our first couple of games, we were having a really tough time scoring, and we ended up getting goals from her freekicks— she can take them from far out, and they’re always on point.”
She added, “And Emme— she is very confident in the goal. When we need someone to step out and if we are not back there in time, she’s there and she’s not afraid to go for it. They both work very hard, and they focus on our practices.”
The freshmen themselves look forward to playing the rest of their four years and maybe even becoming captains someday. They are thrilled to be on such an amazing team, and to have been taken in from day one.
Pacheo-Hager, a goalie, said, “Me and Kaitlyn have been playing soccer forever. We started in Parks and Rec together when we were five and we have been playing together ever since.”
Pereau, center midfielder, added, “Chemistry on and off the field, especially since we have had so much time to bond and know how each other play, is great!”
With excellent work, ethics, and immeasurable passion for the sport of soccer, both Pacheo-Hager and Pereau find it a different experience to play for the school team.
They both said they face new obstacles; foremost is playing against different ages.
Pacheo-Hager said, “Playing against older kids is definitely a challenge as a goalie and out on the field.”
Yet, Pacheo-Hager asserted that she is “not intimidated by playing against older kids. It gets me competitive, and I want to play better when I play against them.”
With their fair share of ups and downs, both Pereau and Pacheo-Hager have made impressive entrances to the Rocky Hill girls’ soccer team.
They both hope to play in college and as Catania said, “They can be and will make a huge impact on any teams they are a part of. I really want them to enjoy the game while they are playing.”
“I feel like we are making up for two seasons. Last season we were shut down due to covid,” said Coach Annmarie Catania.
“They are both very coachable. They came in with higher skill and a great work ethic. They are both team players which makes them easy to coach,” Catania said.