SCSU Soccer Celebration

Southern Connecticut State University is hosting a thirty year celebration of the women’s soccer program to honor former players and coaches on October 24-26. The weekend will feature a speaking opportunity by the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher on Friday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. in SCSU’s Lyman Center Auditorium. 

Naeher will also be honored at Pratt and Whitney Stadium in East Hartford Sunday afternoon, October 26,  at 4:00 during the USWNT game against Portugal for her commitment to U.S Soccer.  The U.S Deaf Men’s National Team will play at 1:00 p.m. as well.

Naeher has been with the U.S. Soccer since 2014, but won her starting spot as goalkeeper in 2017 when she was 29 years old. Naeher, a Stratford native who attended Christian Heritage School in Trumbull, has won many notable titles such as being the second goalkeeper to receive the U.S. Female Player of The Year and won two FIFA World Cup Championships. Additionally, she received a 2020 Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo, Japan. Her interview will cover her olympic journey and her success as a soccer player. 

Naeher’s’s retirement in 2024 was also the year she won Best FIFA Woman’s 11, and her 2024 Olympic gold medal. During the 2024 Olympics, she played every minute and only let two goals in throughout the entirety of the tournament.

In all of her matches played during the 2024 season, Naeher had only let in 11 goals total, a 0.50 GAA (Goals Against Average). In comparison, Hope Solo’s GAA while at the University of Washington was 1.02. Perhaps the most impressive achievement of all was Alyssa’s nomination for the Ballon d’Or award, given annually to the best women’s soccer player in America. 

Besides Naeher’s speech, SCSU will honor former players and coaches during the weekend. The current Owls women’s soccer team plays ME-10 foe Franklin Pierce at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. This home game will take place at Jess Dow Field in New Haven. The weekend will also feature an alumni game.

Southern Connecticut State University is a Division II university that has produced many All-Americans and National Championships.. 

SCSU Women’s Soccer Coach Adam Cohen has been the Women's coach for 22 seasons. Coach Cohen has received two All-American selections, 52 All-Northeast 10 selections, and 41 All-New England selections. In 2014, he coached the women's team to victory in an ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Championship.

“I think the student athletes really deserve the recognition at this point in time. We’re so grateful that the university founded the program in 1996 and for all the people who had the foresight to launch the women's soccer team. We’re very grateful; none of it would be possible without title nine and everything that contributed to women's sports in this country,” SCSU Women’s Soccer Coach Adam Cohen said. “It's a great celebration of women's sports. I think it's a great celebration of 30 seasons of soccer at Southern Connecticut State University.”

Tickets to the anniversary event are available through SCSU at tickets.southernct.edu.Tickets are $43 for Regular Seating, Premium Seating is $58, and a Gold Circle VIP pass, which includes a post-event photo opportunity with Naeher, costs  $108. This highly anticipated event is also an important fundraiser to support scholar-athletes. “All the money we make is going to go back directly to the student athletes,” Cohen said..

The SCSU women’s soccer program was started in 1996 by Jim O’Brien, a former SCSU men’s soccer player and assistant coach. O’Brien led the Owls to an ECAC championship, a NE-10 regular season championship, and the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. These successes helped build the foundation that the program still has today. Currently, O’Brien is the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Long Island University. 

 “To have the best Goalkeeper in the world make an appearance will cap off a memorable season for Owls Women’s Soccer and a fitting tribute to the student athletes who have worn the uniform over the years. I look forward to what is sure to be a wonderful evening!” O’Brien said.

Cohen hopes that the main takeaway from this event will create a strong message.  “Opportunity, motivation, and just a really positive message of what you can accomplish with hard work and dedication,” he said.