Matt Gad – Sports Writer
Kelsey Burr is just a freshman but she is already making her presence felt on the Southern women’s soccer team, which is 6-3 and winners of their last three.
With just two wins last year, there is a completely different culture to this year’s squad.
“I love this team and couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else,” Burr said. “I
feel like I truly fit in and they make me feel comfortable being out there on the field with them. It feels awesome to have make an impact already and I will continue to keep proving I can do that.”
Burr, recruited out of Sheehan High School in Wallingford, is a forward
and has played in all of the Owls’ nine games so far this fall. She is tallied three goals and an assist and has also been successful on the pair of penalty kicks she has lined up to take.
“She’s gotten off to a good start, as we’ve expected. She has done very well but there’s still a long way to go,” head coach Adam Cohen said. “We started recruiting her some time ago because some people choose to start the process their sophomore year [of high school].”
Burr is one of 10 freshmen on this year’s roster, which includes goalkeepers Abigail Allen, from Amity, and Tamra Zippin, Middletown’s Kaitlyn D’Amico, Greta Brunello from Italy, Guilford’s Taylor Shutak, Georgia Texiera, Clinton’s Courtney Viglione, Amanda Dustin and Taylor Davis.
“Everyone on this team has chemistry; it’s like we’re all one,” Burr said. “We get along very well and we’re family to each other.”
Cohen said that he believes his athletes have “had enough” with the program’s lackluster success in the past and are now “making a statement.”
“They’re making a statement with what they want the program to be like and it’s translating into some success,” Cohen said. “The chemistry in this year’s group
is outstanding and it starts with our great veteran leadership and the culture that’s already been created.”
Over the last several seasons, the team has struggled to maintain a constant mark. Last year they went 2-12-3, the year before that they were 9-7-3 and in 2015 they went 6-10-1.
“We’ve known for years what Kelsey’s been capable of,” Cohen said. “I’m hoping she stays motivated to get better and better.”
He said her ability speaks “for itself” and that while she is not “tremendously vocal” her confidence is coming along.
“She’s not a finished product and she’s not as good as she can be,” he said.
Burr has played to numerous accolades at Sheehan and also with Ginga FC, a soccer academy in Woodbridge, where she won three state cups.
Even though she is still new to the soccer program on campus, she has already developed relationships with not just Cohen but the entire coaching staff.
“The coaches all give helpful feedback on how to improve before, during and after games and practices,” she said. “They are also always looking to motivate us in any way possible.”
Burr scored the lone goal last week in the team’s upset win over No. 16 Adelphi. Last Saturday, they extended their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 win at American International.
Photo Credit: SCSU Athletic Communications
