UConn-Southern CT Match Benefits Dennis Murphy ’73 Scholarship
The April 22 men’s soccer match (5 p.m.) between the University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University should be a great one.
It’s made even greater by the back story. The game is a fundraiser for the Dennis Murphy Scholarship.
“Murph” was the Staples 1973 graduate who died last year of esophageal cancer. One of 4 famed Wrecker brothers, he was a member of 2 state championship teams there (and scored the only goal his senior year, in a 1-0 state final victory over Conard-West Hartford).
At Southern Connecticut, he was captain in both his junior and senior year. After graduating in 1977, Dennis stayed at Southern for 2 years as an assistant coach, under famed head coach Bob Dikranian. The Owls reached the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first 2 times in school history.
He returned to Staples the following year as an assistant to head coach Jeff Lea. During 2 stints (1980-82 and 1985-86), the Wreckers won 2 FCIAC championships, and 2 state titles. In between (1983 and ’84), Dennis coached soccer at Coleytown Junior High School.
Dennis also won numerous state championships during a 9-year run as a coach with Bridge Grille FC (to go along with 2 he won as a player). He spent 15 years coaching in the Westport Soccer Association, reaching the Eastern US regional finals with his U-18 side. Twice, he took WSA teams to Germany.
In 2009, he was honored by the Sportsmen of Westport for his many sports contributions.
All proceeds from the match will go to the Dennis Murphy Scholarship. For information, call 203-392-6018 or email langt1@southernct.edu.
Dennis Murphy
