UConn-Southern Match Draws Crowd, Raises Funds
The weather forecast was bad. It was school vacation. Nearly every high school player was away at a club tournament.
But the rain held. Over 200 fans showed up. And they enjoyed an entertaining, top-notch college match today on the Wakeman turf.
The University of Connecticut topped Southern Connecticut State University 4-1, in a spring tune-up for both squads. The Huskies and Owls share a long history. For example, UConn head coach Ray Reid previously coached SCSU.
The two teams also share a bond in the Murphy family. Dennis ’73 played at coached at Southern (as well as at Staples, and for many Westport Soccer Association and Bridge Grille U-23 teams). He died in 2016 of cancer, at age 62. His brothers Ed ’74 and Ken ’76 played at UConn.
Ed, Ken and many family members were at today’s game. It was a fundraiser for the Dennis Murphy Scholarship. $4,500 was collected today — with much more being donated online. To contribute click here, or send a check to Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Write “Dennis Murphy Scholarship” on the memo line.
Many former Wreckers were in the crowd too, including Neil Brickley ’71, Matt Calish ’73, Sean Doyle ’74, Dave Wilson ’75, Seth Sholes ’79, Rick Davis ’81, Doug Fincher ’82, Brad Bierman ’91, Liam Bohonnon ’08, Andres Marmelo ’15 and Ryan Fincher ’18.
The Westport Soccer Association helped stage today’s match. Special thanks to Stuart McCarthy ’79, Todd Coleman ’84 and Andy Udell ’88.
Both teams had a great day. Plans are already underway for next year’s match.
Action from today’s match. UConn is in blue, Southern Connecticut in white. (Photo/Rick Davis)
After the UConn-Southern match (from left): Ken Murphy ’76, Dennis’ brother and the head coach at Connecticut College; longtime UConn assistant coach John Deeley; Stuart McCarthy ’79, wearing a Bridge Grille shirt. That’s the legendary U-23 team that Dennis Murphy played on and coached.
