CCSU Women's Soccer Helps Connecticut Fusion to UWS Final
Several current and former Central Connecticut women's soccer standouts have helped the Connecticut Fusion reach the United Women's Soccer national final in Round Rock, TX. Connecticut will play SC Blue Heat on Sunday at Noon at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, hosted by FC Austin Elite. Information on the championship tournament weekend can be found at the UWS Homepage.
Tess Atkinson, Roma McLaughlin, Amanda McQuillan, and Taylor Smith, along with CCSU alum, Tori Sousa, have helped lead the Fusion to the United Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament for the first time in organization history.
Connecticut handed Midwest United FC its first loss of the year in Friday's first semifinal by a 2-1 score. McLaughlin and Atkinson were both in the starting 11, while Sousa factored into both Fusion goals. Sousa opened the scoring in the 62nd minute with a goal and assisted on a goal just five minutes later to double the score.
The Fusion earned its spot the four-team tournament by winning the East Conference Playoff Tournament in Buffalo, NY. Connecticut knocked off Syracuse DA and the East's top seed, FC Buffalo Women, by identical 2-0 scorelines. Heading into the weekend here is how some Blue Devils standouts have fared:
Atkinson has appeared in six matches for the Fusion, starting three, and played 278 minutes. She notched a goal in the regular season finale over Worcester Smiles.
McLaughlin has appeared in and started in six matches for the Fusion this year. She missed a handful of matches in the middle of the season to represent the Republic of Ireland on international duty. McLaughlin currently stands on four goals and three assists over 496 minutes played. She had a pair of two-goal, one-assist games in wins over the Albany Rush and Worcester Smiles and also notched an assist in a key late season win over the Connecticut Rush.
McQuillan has started two matches in goal for the Fusion and appeared in four total matches. She's played 246 combined minutes and registered six saves across those appearances, including a massive penalty kick save in a 4-1 win at Scorpions SC.
Smith appeared in three matches off the bench for the club, playing 75 total minutes.
Sousa, a two-time all-conference honoree and 2014 Northeast Conference Player of the Year, is the organization's all-time leader in goals, assists and matches played. She returned for her third season with the Fusion and continued to excel as she has career marks of 22 goals, 11 assists in 32 career appearances. She has scored six goals and notched four assists in 10 total appearances (nine starts) this season.
The squad is also coached by Steve Stokoe and Carson D'Ambrosio, a pair of former Blue Devils as well.
About the Connecticut Fusion
The Connecticut Fusion began operations in January 2018 and are in their third season playing in United Women's Soccer ("UWS"). The club is based at Farmington Sports Arena (FSA) in Farmington, CT, where all club practices and games are held.
About United Women's Soccer
United Women's Soccer is a national women's soccer league sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). While teams within UWS have former professionals and former/current national team members on
their rosters, the league is classified as an "amateur" league and is NCAA-compliant.