CIAC Glory Days
The CIAC Glory Days podcast immerses listeners into the world of high school athletics. Explore the purpose and impact of interscholastic athletics on student-athletes as administrators, coaches, players, officials, parents, and State Athletic Association staff take listeners on a journey from tryouts to championships.
CIAC Glory Days
Glory Days Podcast - S3:E4 Coginchaug Girls Soccer
On this episode of the CIAC Glory Days Podcast, host Jada Mirabelle is joined by Coginchaug Girls Soccer, the 2024 CIAC Class S State Champions! Head Coach Liam Isleib and standout players Allison Booth and Kaelyn Connell reflect on their historic journey to the program’s first-ever state championship last season. They share insights into the team’s culture, and the structure that helped turn a dream season into reality.
Welcome to CIEC's Glory Days Podcast. I'm your host, Jada Mirabel, and today I'm joined by Coginchog Girls Soccer, the 2024 Class S CIEC State Champions. I'm joined by Kaelin Connell, Alison Booth, and head coach Liam Islib. Thanks for joining me today.
SPEAKER_04:Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you.
SPEAKER_02:Excited to hear your stories about last season. So, coach, this past season was your first season as the head coach for Coginchog Girls Soccer. And tell me what changes did you implement to help mold this team into the championship-winning team that they are? Because last year was the first state championship appearance.
SPEAKER_04:Right. I think the big thing I wanted to bring was consistency. They've had three different coaches in the last three years. And so I kind of really wanted to build a routine with them. It's tough, you know, for them to have a different different coach each year who has a different playing style and maybe a different formation and ideas. So I wanted to create, you know, consistent workouts, consistent practices, consistent games, you know, and you know, I think it really like benefited them to have that routine, you know, and have that consist consistency.
SPEAKER_02:So absolutely. Athletes need structure to help help grow and be successful. So what other core values did you try to implement within the program besides that consistency?
SPEAKER_04:It's gonna sound kind of lame, but I think, you know, kind of building that winning mentality. And I think a lot of it has to do with that last question of being consistent. And I mean, I think it really benefits them, you know, to have a coach, I think, for the first time in their career for back-to-back years. You know, they've had their entire year, they've had a different coach, so you know, now they know what to expect. You know, now they know how pre season's preseason's gonna go, how workouts are gonna go, how practices are gonna go, you know, in games and everything like that. And I think it's gonna be really beneficial.
SPEAKER_02:Definitely. It helps everyone get a feel for it and not have to go blind to the season, you know what to expect.
SPEAKER_04:Right.
SPEAKER_02:So, how do you approach building team chemistry, especially early on in the season?
SPEAKER_04:Um, I think a lot of it's during the summertime, and I think that the two extra practices we have now um is really good for especially the freshmen coming in. Um they get to see how practices are run, you know, and they get to see we have summer league games, we have workouts, and they get to meet all the teams. And I think it's really beneficial, especially for Cog and Child, because we're a very small program. We only had 22 girls in the team last year, so it was only one team. And you see these bigger schools that have a freshman team, a JV team, and a varsity team, and they all have different coaches and they all all have different ideas. And every all of our team comes together. We see each other every single day for maybe half the year or five months of the year. So we get to know each other and we build that chemistry that way. And it's also like beneficial in the way where maybe a a player who got put on the freshman team or the JV team, I mean, they don't really get the opportunities to move up. And I see these players every single day, and I give chances to younger players. And you know, how last year about or over 50% of the team was underclassmen. And we had yeah, two starting freshmen backs, and our goalkeepers are freshmen as well, and they started basically almost every game that they were available. So it was it's really beneficial and it gives the opportunity to the underclassmen.
SPEAKER_02:Definitely to have the opportunity, it's a great chance for students.
SPEAKER_04:Right.
SPEAKER_02:So Cogenthog had quite the run through the regular season. You guys defeated Cromwell in the state semifinals, who were the reigning champs, and then that was before facing Morgan for the final, but before that you had faced them two times prior, once in the regular season where you had lost by five goals, then once in shorelines where you had lost by four, but what changed for that third and final matchup? Because obviously the outcome was very different.
SPEAKER_01:Um I'm pretty sure Morgan just went in like really strongly, thinking that they're just gonna beat us as soon as the game started. I feel like they didn't even go out that strong, but I think we went out knowing like we're gonna get us. Yeah, this is just another game. Like we've never seen this team before, they never seen us. We just need to go out, like, play like this is our last game of the season because it is, and just give it our all.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, just be in the moment. Clean slate. Yeah, it's who it's who shows up the day the most. It doesn't matter if you've lost to them pr in the past. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:We did change a lot tactically as well. I think we played a little bit different style as well. Um, we watched a lot of film, yeah, and we talked kind of talked about what our strengths were and then how we are how we struggled in those first two games against them. And a lot of it was self-inflicted. We made a lot of mistakes in the back and building up, and they and Morgan's a very good team, and they capitalized them. Um so we kind of decided we were gonna play a little more direct. So you know, we kind of played everything long and we use our strength up top, which was our speed, you know, to kind of get in behind the defense and play in their end and make them make the mistakes. Um so that was kind of like our game plan, and then we kind of changed up a little bit.
SPEAKER_02:So Yeah, but playing them those two times probably really helped you see their strengths and their weaknesses.
SPEAKER_01:For the final game, I remember we changed our back line and then our like attack line, like our top three, we like learned how to play with each other like even better. And even during the Shorelines game, I feel like we figured out how to get by them. We just couldn't figure out how to finish. But I think that almost worked out better for us in the end because they didn't really be able to stop us.
SPEAKER_04:I think pressure was a big factor as well, and I think they felt it a lot more than we did. I think them beating us by that much those first two games, everyone was expecting them to kill us again. And so I think we us being the underdogs, we really didn't feel as much pressure as them. I mean, we still were nervous, I could tell. And I was nervous just being on the sideline, but I think it'll affect them a lot more than especially in overtime and pel in the kicks. You could definitely see it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so yeah, it it it shifts when it gets down to that to the wire like that. Yeah. So they had gotten on the board first, and then you guys had scored and gotten back in the halfway through the second. So Alison, you scored the awesome tying goal. So tell us about that moment. What did you see from that perspective?
SPEAKER_01:Um so this is like what I remember. I just like the adrenaline, just like don't really remember it like exactly, but I do remember so Sophie Farr had the ball in the middle, and I was playing right wing, so I started making a run um on like the outside of their outside back, and I saw her look up, so I just started sprinting, making sure I stayed on the side. She saw me, and she just like we played like really good together, so she just knew exactly where I was gonna be. So and I knew pretty much where she'd send it, and that's where I found it. I got the ball right past their goalie. All I remember is being like really surprised, and I ran to Kaylin actually. I was like the first person I saw, and I just ran too. I think it was just like incredible that actually happened.
SPEAKER_02:Definitely. Yeah, I remember as soon as you scored it, the entire crowd just jumped up. They all had the Ted Lasso signs up. They were all so excited. Was that a theme throughout the entire season? Or was it? Was it?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, she was she was um really passionate about like just getting everybody to be high spirits and cheering for us. So she made like I don't even know how many she made, but it was like yellow, yeah, like these yellow signs. I didn't even know she made them too, but she had stayed up like making them all night and I don't know. So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, you should have seen the just for us getting onto the bus to go to the game, the amount of people there. They had like a party just for us getting on the bus. Yeah, yeah. Well, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_03:We had a surprise send-off party.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, that's so special.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, the town was really into it, and probably half the town was there.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, we had the entire like boys' team like made a sign for each of us and stuff like that. Then like the bus was decorated.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, that community really makes a big difference though. We were going into those big moments.
SPEAKER_03:But boosted us up, I think, a lot.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah, definitely. You had definitely one of the biggest crowds. Remember the kids, like there was they had the all spelled out on a letter on your shirt, the the mascot. Yeah. That was special. So after that tie in goal, did the strategy shift before we headed into double overtime?
SPEAKER_04:So not really. Um we did not want to go to pelic kicks. Um I mean, some coaches would kind of sit in and just hope, you know, we go to a tie, maybe we can beat them at penalty kicks. But we had been practicing penalty kicks for the entire postseason, you know, they're laughing, they're laughing. And I think it progressively got worse and worse every day we did it. Really? And it was, yeah, it was not good. And I remember turning to my assistant Nick and being like, after the second overtime, being like, I would gladly take coach uh co-champions right now because I did not want to go to penalty kicks. Um and funny story is we get into penalty kicks, and uh I had set like a lineup, our first 10 players, and all of a sudden we get into the huddle and and I won't name names, but there are a couple players who are like, I don't want to take one anymore. I don't want to take one. So I had to scramble and find new players to get in the lineup, and it took us, I don't know, there was a delay of me trying to write everyone's name down and get them in order, and it was just a little bit of chaos. Um, but they did well. And we had uh we had a freshman and a sophomore, a freshman who didn't play at all the entire game step up and being compelled to kick. And a sophomore as well. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02:You have to shift in those moments quickly sometimes, but it worked out for the best. Absolutely. Did you give like a speech before the PKs to get everyone calm or no?
SPEAKER_04:Like I said, it was chaos. And I was like just yeah, trying to get it going, and you know, we practiced so much, and I just said I did get to talk to them when they they all walked to Hatfield, and I had to walk up and they write their names down so the announcer could do the order. And I just basically said, you know, do what we've been working on, practice. You know, don't worry about the fans, don't worry about the goalkeeper, block out everything, and just do what you've been working on for in the practice for the last couple weeks.
SPEAKER_03:So that's what it comes down to. Right. Every time I went in the net, we were like screaming, just jumping up and down.
SPEAKER_01:We were just like so happy, like for all of our like all of our like ones that actually went in, because like yeah, after practices, that was just like a win for us. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And when Anna saved them, oh my god.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, she had in some incredible saves.
SPEAKER_04:Awesome goal later. Yeah, she played really well.
SPEAKER_02:Only a freshman, too. Yeah. Yeah. That that what an advantage that you had such a young team last year, and then you're going to the the new season with almost the same team. So I'm sure you learned many different lessons from just that championship game. But what were your key takeaways from last season that you learned?
SPEAKER_01:Um pretty much that you just have to keep working. Because like my freshman year, we definitely did not have the best like record. I think we won three games all year. We did not make states, we did not make shorelines. Um, a team that we like beat pretty badly made states over us. So it pretty much was like, okay, my sophomore year, like just gotta keep working. Um like even if we don't do that good. Like after Shorelines, I was like, states, like I feel like we got this. Like I remember like talking to like one of the girls on the team, and I was like, I think we got this one. Um but we definitely put in so much work. Um we did like lots of like running, but it wasn't even just like running, it was like with the ball. We got a lot of touches, we did lots of shooting. Like Liam pulled like different positions aside to make sure that we got what we needed, but it wasn't just like um like that's kind of when he changed up the consistency, but I think that's what we needed because like we actually worked on what we like needed.
SPEAKER_02:That would make a big difference focusing on the different skills for each different group.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me, like especially because I had three different coaches like every single year. So this year is the only year, like Liam returning and having the same coaches was really good for me to see. And um I think that the biggest thing is the team camaraderie, like we just grew so much, the girls in general. I think like some of my best friends, like I it's only me and one other teammate um in my grade because I'm a really small grade. Um, so like having the team and having friendships like all different ages, and we all just like bond really well, especially in like that high intensity, high emotion game setting. Um, it just forms such good relationships with the other teammates, and I think that's really what um strengthens our team at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02:Definitely.
SPEAKER_04:They're not gonna like this, but I think what I learned most is I'm gonna be able to push them more, or I should be pushing them more. I didn't really know what to expect, really, to come again. That's my first year, and I didn't know how you know how well we would do. Um, but I know I can push some harder now, and so just get better each year.
SPEAKER_02:Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_04:We need to raise our levels because next year is gonna be even harder and the bar set high now.
SPEAKER_02:How has being an athlete shaped who you are off the field?
SPEAKER_01:Um I think it's like made me almost like a better person. Like I've gotten better with like working with people. Um it's taught me how to be like a harder worker, especially like in school, um even like out of school, just like making sure I'm not like almost like lazy, like I'm always doing something. Like, even if it's just like working for soccer, like having a job, working stuff for school, just like working around the house. Like, I think it's made me a better person like that. I know how to communicate better with people. Um, I've gotten better about like not tearing people down, like because everyone makes mistakes, so yeah, like I wouldn't want people tearing me down, so I make sure, especially the incoming freshmen, I make sure that they are like comfortable on the fields that they know that their mistakes are okay as long as they're actually trying. Yeah, I think that's what matters at the end of the day, as long as you're trying. Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, that's a great perspective to have. I think for me, like I totally agree with everything Allie said, but also like just building an athlete, like being able to build discipline, like physically, also like really relates and and doing it mentally for school and other whatever whatever other pursuits like that you like doing. Um so like being an athlete, like getting up and going to practice and putting in hard work can also just make you want to chase like that feeling of success a little more. And so, like, especially my junior year, like we won states, and that was like just fueling me to be like, all right, now I can now I'm gonna go to school and I'm gonna work as hard as I can here, and it really just like domino effect, I I think leads into wanting to chase more for yourself, and so I think that all starts in being an athlete.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's awesome. There's so many life skills you could take from sports. And coach, you were a CIC athlete as well?
SPEAKER_04:Yes. I played at Adam Killingworth. Yes.
SPEAKER_02:Remember any takeaways, any life lessons that you learn now looking back?
SPEAKER_04:Uh I don't think I'm an athlete any longer, so uh I don't know if I can comment on that. But it's probably like they said, like the teamwork stuff and the camaraderie and having a routine and having a schedule, and that's kind of what a big thing I wanted to bring in, obviously, as well.
SPEAKER_02:So that's super important to showcase. So how do each of you prepare mentally and physically for a game? How do you get into that winning mindset?
SPEAKER_01:Um so I usually just like listen to music before games. Um before games I try and get like a couple of shots on net, like I'll put a ball on the top of the six-yard box and I'll just take like shots. I'm not even trying to place it, I'm just trying to like figure out my like foot on the ball. Um then I do some like dribbling on the side just to like get my touches down kind of. And then I think like our warm-up is pretty good because it gets like crosses, shooting, um, ball skills, just like all warmed up, stretching. I think that's like pretty much it. Crossing.
SPEAKER_03:I I said crossing the um throw the routine out of the um I think uh we do like small side possession like before games, which is which really helps us get ready to like um face those 1v1s in like real game time. And also like most importantly, I think like music is such a big thing. Like we'll put on our playlist, our team playlist. We'll put it on and we have fun before games, so it's sort of like everybody gets nervous, so yeah. I think music is a great way to just like have fun with it and warming up, and everybody's like dancing and to our songs and whatever. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Keeps the spirits up. It really does. Yes, that's a good routine to have though for each game.
SPEAKER_04:Just a little side note, I coached boys' soccer, or high school boy soccer, and there's a big difference between the bus rides.
SPEAKER_00:Uh on the bus rides for boys.
SPEAKER_04:Boys, yeah, it's completely quiet. Everyone has their headphones in, you know, they're like playing against their phones. And I turn around on these bus rides, and it's everyone doing each other's hair and a devil blasting in the back.
SPEAKER_00:That's what gets you hyped up about Emerson. Yeah, it's a wild time.
SPEAKER_03:We definitely like to sing before. I was sort of just thinking like home games, but yeah, definitely the bus rides. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02:I think some bus drivers might hate us, but I mean from when I was on uh team to the girls' bus rides are definitely amped up. Oh yeah, yeah. So if you had to choose one motto or one mantra heading into the season, what would it be?
SPEAKER_03:To go with believe, just because like got the signs, you can just reuse them. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Uh it'd be don't get complacent. We're playing our schedule is much more difficult this year. We don't have any easy games and we're matched up against you know a bunch of class L schools and class double L schools. Um so I I think that'll really really benefit us when we get into the postseason. So don't get complacent.
SPEAKER_02:No, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Go out there like you've got something to prove still.
SPEAKER_02:Right.
SPEAKER_01:Uh mine's kind of I've always like believed in this one is um you don't get what you wish for, you get what you work for. Oh, I like that. That's good. So I definitely like follow that. It's just like really what it actually is.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's true for soccer and for life too. Alright, so now we're gonna head in some rapid questions. These are surprise, they're fun, so just first thing that comes to your mind.
SPEAKER_00:Okay.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, ready? Yeah. Caitlin, any superstitions before game time?
SPEAKER_03:Oh, like I don't know. Um not really. I oh well, okay. I think I usually like like for the States game, I actually did this. I had two right feet socks. That's like kind of random, but okay. That just for states? Was this on purpose or I just like I started I did it, I did it like one game and then I I had to do it again because I was like two right feet, so now maybe my left feet left foot won't be as bad.
SPEAKER_02:You couldn't you couldn't twist.
SPEAKER_04:They used to bless each other's shoes before games. I forgot about that. Oh, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:That was something I turned around and installed, and it was like it's sweet. We put them in like a circle like around it, and we like bless with like a sound. Yes. With what? Like it was like it was like the TikTok sounds like TikTok channel season. It's weird. I remember we did. Well, it was like we like move our arms with my bat, and we like go side to side, I think it was. Yeah, I didn't really remember it, but I'll remember it's like we definitely and like we weren't gonna do it before finals, but then we forgot because we forgot about it, and we're like, wait, we have to do this. Yeah, so we don't like as we did like before we were running out to do warm-ups. Oh, I wonder if that will be part of this season, too. We should do it.
SPEAKER_02:I think we should wait. That's interesting. We gotta bless our dates. That's a good superstition, I guess. Haven't heard that one. Alison, pre-game hype song. I know we you said Dell before, but um I don't really know.
SPEAKER_01:Like, I don't think I really have one. I just have like a playlist and I use it as background music. I think it kind of just like drowns out my like thoughts. Helps get the nerves calm. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:All right, coach, one word that your players would use to describe you.
SPEAKER_04:Uh I gotta be careful here.
SPEAKER_03:I don't even know. It's a tough one. Sarcastic.
SPEAKER_04:Sarcastic? Yes.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, that's good. Actually, I would pick that up for Nick.
SPEAKER_04:That too, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:That's not bad.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Kaylin, soccer goat. Oh, um Trinity Roman. Okay. Well, that's just came back, right? Wasn't she? Yeah, okay. Allison, favorite sport other than soccer. Um, probably track, track. Okay, favorite part of coaching.
SPEAKER_04:Um probably like the chemistry and the relationships you build with your players.
SPEAKER_02:Kaelin, favorite sports movie. Giving you the tough one, sorry. Um thinker.
SPEAKER_04:Ted Lasso, come on.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, Ted Lasso. Oh yeah. Are you guys all big fans? I've seen the show this year. I've never watched it. I should probably watch the rest, actually. I haven't watched it. I had to do a lot of Googling before this to learn about the signs and everything. Allison, favorite pregame or post-game meal?
SPEAKER_01:Um, usually a cheeseburger or chicken tenders and fries. Well, this is a good thing. This is post-game. I usually don't I usually eat like an apple pregame. Okay. It's a lot of running.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, you probably don't want a heavy meal.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and then I'll eat like Sour Patch Kids during halftime. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Coach, one word to describe the team.
SPEAKER_04:Entertaining.
SPEAKER_00:That's a good one.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, a team is very entertaining, and you know, the practices are very lively, so you know. They bring a lot of fun, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, it keeps the season fun and entertaining boring or the same. No, absolutely not. Caitlin, assist or goals. There we go. Good answer.
SPEAKER_01:Don't worry about others, just like focus on yourself.
SPEAKER_02:Alright. Um, besides winning the championship, what was your favorite moment of last season?
SPEAKER_04:It's probably the semifinals against Cromwell. That game before, that was a really good game for us, and Cromwell was one of our toughest matches, and we played really well, and I feel like for some reason we matched up really good well against Cromwell. I think Cromwell beat Morgan, right, during the season? Yeah. Yeah, in some. Whenever we played them, we did we always played really well. And that game was especially yeah, we played amazing. Especially in the first half.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that'll get your spirits up heading to the channel.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, right. We built momentum at the right time. Yeah. One of the few cold nights as well, I remember.
unknown:Yes.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I remember the bus ride there. That's like what I remember most about that game.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, our bus driver had a little oops on the way there. Oh we got a little bit of an accident.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, we had like 15 minutes to warm up, so that's like what I'm saying. We played so well when we had no time to go. Wow.
SPEAKER_04:It was a tactic, you know. We let them freeze their butts off on the field, and then we came out nice and warm up there off the bus. The bus driver must have known let me let me throw them off a little bit. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:All right, so for this last one, everyone could chime in. Okay. Ronaldo or Messi? It's easy.
SPEAKER_00:Messi?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, it's Messi for sure. Really? Do you agree? Barcelona fan, that's why though. Okay. Yeah, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02:I feel like sometimes people could get into a debate about that.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:No, not here.
SPEAKER_03:I feel like I respect both. At the end of the day, Messi, I think.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I used to like Ronaldo, but like I've grown to like Messi more. That's a good unified team here with the response.
SPEAKER_03:I actually didn't know what you guys were saying, but all right.
SPEAKER_02:So lastly in the podcast, I always wrap up by asking the guests, what do you think the purpose of high school sports is?
SPEAKER_01:I think it's like to build a community like outside of like school. It's to give like everyone a chance if they want to, especially like in our smaller school, everyone definitely gets the chance to play a high school sport and be on a team, even if they don't play. But I think even just being on a team, you get to build all the connections, you get pretty much the exact same experience, except for the actually the playing. So I guess it's less stressful. But I think it's like good because you learn the stress, you learn how to deal with it, 100%. Especially like in the real world, like that's what you have to deal with.
SPEAKER_02:You have to juggle out of things.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. You learn time management skills, you know. Really good interpersonal communication skills. I think like you build the most important relationships, like not the most, but some of the most important relationships. Like you have different grade levels coming together and um yeah, just discipline, motivation.
SPEAKER_01:I think it's like good because like I remember during the school year, I could go up to like all any of the upperclassmen, even the underclassmen, if I needed anything. Like they were always there for me.
SPEAKER_02:So it's great communication skills, and then those relationships you'll have for years after high school as well.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah. We definitely bonded like so much with our team, especially last year.
SPEAKER_04:Well, I think um I think if the best thing is to playing for something more than your team, like they're playing for their entire town. And it was really, really cool to see after we won, we got like an escort from the police station and the fire trucks, and we drive down the main road of Durham. And I'm not even from Durham, and I was like, wow, this is amazing. Because everyone came out of their town, they're out of their houses and they were all clapping and they all knew about it, and it was really, really cool experience to see it. Yeah. That's like from a movie.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, to have that special commuter.
SPEAKER_03:I feel like that's why it's crazy. It's still not even real. We were just texting yesterday. We're like, yeah, but if it doesn't even feel real, like busy dream.
SPEAKER_02:Those small towns show up the most sometimes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:They do.
SPEAKER_02:All right. Well, thank you all so much for joining me on the podcast. You guys did great, and it was great to hear about your last season. And I wish you the best in this 2025 season.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks for having us.