The Trumbull United U-12 Pumas roared into the Sweet 16 of the Connecticut Cup with a 6-0 win in Fairfield on Saturday.
Olivia Centopani opened the scoring by drilling a shot that Fairfield’s keeper couldn’t handle. Payton Corsi and Caitlin Ghent each scored two goals, while Amanda Ruchalski recorded the other tally.
Ruchalski’s goal came on perhaps Trumbull’s best combination play of the game, as Isabella Latorre made one of her signature runs down the left side before crossing the ball.
The Trumbull defense allowed goalies Julia Marin, Lindsay Bull and Rachel Kapteina to go largely untested.
Ashley Velloso and Ashley Engen had Fairfield’s forwards’ number all day in the middle of the defense.
Caroline Pagliaro and Caroline Buck played smart defense, keeping a high line, allowing the Pumas to continually press forward.
This weekend, Trumbull will try to match their quarterfinal appearance from the fall when it faces West Hartford at home.
On Sunday, the girls traveled up to Southbury for a 6-3 win in league play.
The scoring opened on a Bull cross to Kapteina, who found Corsi for the first of her two goals.
Trumbull would fall behind 2-1, before Centopani lifted a lovely chip over the Southbury’s goalie’s head and Isabella Moriera powered another into back of the net shortly after intermission.
Trumbull would not look back.
At wingback, the skilled Kaitlyn Bailo, noticing the goalie off her line, rocketed a shot from about 40 yards out.
While the ball didn’t go in, the keeper couldn’t handle it, allowing Corsi to finish again.
Moriera would add a second goal before the scoring concluded on a Marin goal off an assist from Ghent.
Trumbull received tough defensive play from Halle Camarota and some nice finesse from Mikayla DePina, as Marin, Evelyn Marchand and Ruchalski were in net.
The Pumas played the weekend without Kaitlyn Coppola, who cheered on her teammates.