NEW BRITAIN – They did it again.

After capturing the CJSA State Cup this past fall, the Newtown Rockets – the girls’ U13 team sponsored by the Newtown Soccer Club – made it a double dip by capturing the spring CJSA State Cup last weekend in New Britain with a 3-0 win over Wethersfield.

And they did it while weathering some adversity.

In the fall, the Rockets had won the Cup despite losing their starting goaltender, Tara Gaston, to a gash over her eye that required 24 stitches to close up. This past weekend, the Rockets had to go without Maria Cinquegrana and Jillian Tanner, both sidelined due to injuries.

On Saturday – in the sweltering heat – Wethersfield started the game playing fast and physical and spent most of the early stages of the first half in the Newtown end. That is, until striker Alex Konneker hustled past her right-side defender and blasted a shot deep into the left side of the net for a 1-0 Newtown lead.

Throughout the game, Rocket defenders Elyssa (E) Samsel, Emily Fields, Casey Frobey, and Meghan Rawson firmly anchored themselves in the back and permitted just three shots on net. One of those shots came five minutes into the second half, with the Rocket offensive momentum stalled on a 1-0 lead, but goaltender Tori Thomas – using some cat-like abilities – timed her leap perfectly and saved a shot heading for the upper left corner of the goal.

The inspiring save sparked the Rockets the rest of the way. Fifteen minutes into the second half, with intense offensive pressure being exerted by Mary Anders, Siobhan Cooper, Kayla Mesko and Konneker, Samsel parked a shot from 10 feet outside the box deep into the back of the Wethersfield net for a 2-0 Rockets lead.

Midfielders Tara Gaston, Erin Clark, Caitlin Hansen and Mary Grace Over had helped fuel that offensive pressure, leading to the goal.

With 10 minutes left in the half, Anders crossed a ball to Cooper, who punched in the final goal of the afternoon and gave the Rockets the 3-0 advantage.

“These girls worked hard and earned the title of champions!” said assistant coach and trainer, Dave Cooper. “Our girls played an older and bigger team. We had two eighth graders, but they had 12.”

For the Newtown Rockets – as well as for the Newtown Soccer Club – the win is especially rewarding.

“This is a state-wide competition with great teams and great programs,” said head coach Dave Frobey. “The girls U13 spring cup is named after Al Taubert and it is truly satisfying to win Al’s Cup and I’m glad we could bring it home.”

Asked what the girls think makes them champions, the resounding – and unified – answer was, “Teamwork, Mr Frobey and Mr Cooper.”