When the Avon High boys varsity soccer team took the field in Windsor Locks on Friday, Sept. 21, they expected to win, but they were aiming for more.
Assistant coach Dave Zlatin had alerted the boys that if they won this game it would be head coach Patrick Mulligan’s 100th win in eight years with the varsity program. The boys wanted to win big for their coach, and they did. 8-0.
“I was very surprised; I didn't know the players even knew,” Mulligan, who never mentioned it to his young team, said. “I didn't want the players to feel any pressure going into the game, and I only found out that it could be my 100th win at about lunch time.”
That was enough time for the players to decorate t-shirts with the words ‘100 wins’ and for the parents to bake 100 falcon-blue cupcakes to bring to the field. When the buzzer signaled the end of the game, the boys donned their shirts, ran across the field and doused their unsuspecting coach with a cooler of ice water.
“It was a proud moment and we share it with Mully and all the great players from the past 8 seasons,” remarked co-captain Jackson Davey. “It’s an honor to complete what they started.”
The win over Windsor Locks was the Falcons’ third this season; their record is 3-1-0. A very young squad, rebuilding after losing 10 starters to graduation last year, Mulligan is pleased with the way they are gelling as a team.
And, after eight years as varsity coach (and seven prior at the junior varsity level) Mulligan said he’s still excited to head to the field every day.
“The players continue to inspire me to work hard," Mulligan said.
