It was a hot fall season for the Granby Rovers Soccer Club as two teams captured league titles, two teams had tournament victories and three made runs in the Connecticut (CT) Cup.
During their last fall season before high school, the U14 girls team brought home the league championship. The U13 boys team also finished atop their league with a record of 6-1-0. The U13 girls blue team earned the first-place trophy at the Ocean Cup on Cape Cod over Columbus Day weekend after winning the finals in penalty kicks. The U11 boys blue team were the champions of the top division at the South Windsor Fall Classic tournament.
In the Connecticut Cup, a statewide single-elimination tournament that takes place throughout the fall season, three Granby Rovers teams had big wins to advance to later rounds.
“The Connecticut Cup puts our club up against teams and towns of all sizes,” said Austin Busbey, president of Granby Rovers. “It’s a great way for our kids to get a feel of what’s out there beyond our corner of Connecticut.”
The U15 boys team advanced to the third round of the Connecticut Cup, the U13 girls blue team made it to the state quarterfinals and the U14 girls team competed in the state semi-finals. “These are impressive accomplishments as it really can be a best-of-the-best event across the state,” Busbey said.
For the first time ever, Granby Rovers hosted a mini-tournament put on by the North Central Connecticut District League at Salmon Brook Park in November.
“We had 12 teams come to Granby and were able to show off our beautiful fields and park,” Busbey said. “Our U12 boys team even made it to the finals!”
The Rovers soccer community was out in full force on Oct. 5 to support the Granby Memorial High School (GMHS) teams during Rovers Night. They cheered the boys to a 5-0 win over Bolton and rallied behind the girls as they earned a 3-3 tie against Berlin, a larger Class L school.
“Rovers Night is a special event that brings the Granby soccer community together, with young soccer players and their families coming out to cheer on the high school teams,” said Andrea Wiggins, co-chair of the GMHS Athletic Boosters Club. “The energy from the crowd, many of whom were once Rovers themselves, is felt by all of the players. This event not only boosts team spirit, but also strengthens our high school athletics program as the single largest fundraiser supporting the boosters club. Thank you to the Rovers community for your support!”
Submitted by Andrea Burns