Tolland Connecticut-- Headed into the 2025 season the JVF Dragons made it clear that they intended to live up to the lofty expectations, they believed this was the greatest Dragons team ever, and they intended to deliver upon years of hard work and sacrifice. The organization has dreamed of a team that could perform at the highest level, provide the most ready access, and show the world that this game is for everybody.
Did they ever deliver tonight, and they did so in style.
Led by tournament MVP Lyla Patel (Hamden), Senior Jillian Lydon (Orange) Senior Forward Lucy Dickenson (Cheshire), Junior Midfielder Brooke Ouelette (Westbrook), Junior Midfielder Isabelle Ash (Groton), Senior Midfielders Ava and Bella Raffone (Wallingford),and Senior defenders Lilly Bellet (Stonington), and Olivia Cavallaro (Guilford), the JVF Dragons dominated a talented tournament draw featuring some of the best field hockey players in America.
Tourney MVP Lyla Patel enjoyed the defining moment of her JVF career. The Hamden native scored the game winning buzzer beating goal that locked up the #1 seed in the playoff round, defeated the Maine Rapids, and sent the JVF Dragons to the semifinals.
The final statistics left no ambiguty, The JVF Dragons scored 14 goals, and the greatest defense this program has ever seen only surrendered one goal the entire tournament.
In the playoff round, the Dragons scored 6 goals, and allowed none, a comprehensive offensive and defensive performance.
Goalie Kaitlyn Coughlin (Orange) pitched a virtual shutout, commanding the defense, cutting off all access to the cage, and leading her defense to an historical performance.
Head Coach Kylie Garguilo, in her first season as the Dragons skipper, pushed all the right buttons, kept her team positive, and steered them to the most emphatic, the biggest, the most impressive victory in the history of JVF Field Hockey.
Supplementing the title run was Audrey Steward (Waterford), Larissa Martins (Waterford) who controlled the center of the Field, and the steady defensive play of both Madison Thomas (Wallingford), and Lily Valentino (Waterford).
The JVF Dragons will now head back to training camp to prepare for the 2025 Yale Series, and the 2025 RCC National Championship tournament.
In the meantime, they will enjoy the biggest win in program history.