The Foran High School girls soccer team made program history, winning its first-ever state title with a 3–2 victory over Northwest Catholic in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class M final.

In his first season as head coach, Stephen Bell led the Lions to a 17-6 record, ranking 14th in Class M, marking one of the most successful seasons in school history.

Bell said that the team’s growth—especially mentally—was a driving force behind their championship run. “What stood out to me the most as their coach was their overall mental growth,” Bell said. “Prior to the Championship game, my words to the team were simple: ‘Make them adapt to us’ and ‘Start the game on the front foot in the opponent’s half of the field’.”

The championship match was intense from the start, with both teams trading momentum. However, Foran capitalized on key changes, turning pressure into goals that ultimately secured them the victory.

Bell credited the win to several defining qualities. “Hard work, hunger, mental toughness, and of course talent,” he said. “In the big games, the talent coupled with hard work is what wins games.”

Beyond just their physical skill, the Lions also demonstrated a level of composure and unity that set them apart during the postseason. Their ability to stay disciplined even under intense pressure reflected the mindset that Bell spent the season building.

Foran’s Athletic Director, Mr. Jeff Raucci, says, “I think what makes this team amazing is that there is a lot of young talent, and our upperclassmen are phenomenal leaders. Together, they built an amazing culture.”

Northwest Catholic applied heavy tension late in the second half, but defensively, the Lions remained composed. Strong communication on the back line helped the team preserve its lead.

Game MVP sophomore Alexis “Lexi” Lafferty said the team entered the match with the right mentality. “Going into such an important game, you have to have an aggressive ‘in it to win it’ mindset and be willing to put everything on the line. A team’s mindset is often the ultimate deciding factor of who will win.”

Lafferty, who took both corner kicks that led to Foran’s goals, said those set pieces were her most crucial plays of the game.

“The first goal was Peighton heading it in from the corner, and with the third goal, the ball was initially cleared by their keeper, but Maria got the rebound,” Lafferty adds.

Senior captain Dani Boutote, an attacker who plays both striker and right midfielder, emphasized just how impactful Bell has been in shaping the team’s mindset and performance. “Coach Bell is an incredible coach who has, from the start, pushed us to our full potential not just during games, but at practices too,” Boutote remarks.

With Foran’s first CIAC Class M State Championship now secured, the program looks ahead with a new level of expectation. As Bell puts it, “We have set the bar very high going into next season and beyond, and I am confident that this will inspire future groups of players to want to experience the same highs we had this season!”