We see it all the time, a kid growing up in the shadow of State U and making good. Somers isn't all that far from Storrs, where in the 1990's produced some pretty good athletes. Sean Tabb was a 2,000 pt scorer on the basketball court and with Scott Czerwinski, a terrific baseball pitcher who played at Eastern CT, won a pair of Class S Titles...On the pitch, a multi-sport young lady was turning heads as high as the National Team....Her name ? Kerry Connors...
Going thru old stories I could find online, not to mention my days calling games on Continental Cable, I vaguely remember her on the basketball court with the Czerwinski sisters...But I don't think I ever called one of her soccer games...Too bad. An All Stater in leading the Spartans to the 1992 NCCC Championship and a Class S Tournament appearance where her High School Career ended in PK's...The 5-5 Connors caught the eye of Len Tsantiris...and a trip to Storrs was next to play with the Huskies...
While playing with torn ligaments and a knee brace, Connors helped the Huskies reach the College Cup Semi's in 1994, her Sophomore Year...Christy Rowe was a solid midfielder and a freshman defender, Sarah Whalen was an All American in waiting. After surgery in the off season, Connors' career was ready to take off at UConn that started with a 17 assist junior year where the Huskies went 19-3-2 and an 8-0 Big East record..But Notre Dame had the last laugh not only in the Big East Finals, but the NCAA Quarterfinals...Connors one of three Huskies, with Rowe and Whalen named NSCAA All Americans..Connors, a second team honoree, also earned the first of her two Big East Offensive Player of the year Honors with Whalen earning Defensive POY.
The 1996 season, Connors now a senior, would have another tremendous year..20 goals and 18 assists in a 22-3 season that saw Notre Dame again get the better of the Huskies in the end...getting all the way to the title game. UConn's Road ended in the Quarterfinals, falling to Santa Clara 1-0. Connors scoring the lone goal in the opening round 1-0 win over Dartmouth...Connors, who had a pair of goals and assists in the Big East Tournament, again the league Offensive Player of the Year with her impressive numbers...In addition to joining Whalen as NCSAA First Team All Americans.
In Kerry Connors' UConn career, T-4th all time in points with 128 (43g-42a) sharing that number, the current head coach, Margaret Rodriquez. A two time Team MVP In 1995 and 96. Plus a three time All New England selection. USWNT Head Coach Tony DiCicco, a Wethersfield Native was paying attention to Connors, along with Whalen...Kerry played on the National Team in 1997, appearing in 4 games....
Connors Soccer playing days weren't quite over, in 2001 the newly formed WUSA's New York Power drafted her, playing in 19 games...2002's stop was Philadelphia and San Diego in 2003..Three goals scored in 58 appearances. Before final stops with the New England Mutiny and Boston Aztec. Since then, she's worked for Rebook, Under Armour and Yankee Candle. Kerry currently lives in Northampton, Mass as a Procurement Specialist at Smith College...
A Two Time All American that helped UConn contend Nationally on the Women's Pitch...And become a UConn Legend.