Teen earns soccer gold at Nutmeg Games

NORTH CANAAN — Lauren Gilderdale, 12, daughter of North Canaan Elementary School girls soccer coach Byron Gilderdale and his wife, Andrea, won a gold medal with her soccer team during the ShopRite Nutmeg Games in New Britain this summer.

The event was held from July 24 to Aug. 1. Lauren played with the AC Caldo soccer team, which originates from New Milford. The team played in the under-13 league at the games.

The soccer portion of the games were played at both Veteran’s Memorial Field and Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

According to Byron Gilderdale, the AC Caldo team played solidly during the games.

“Lauren played as forward and goalkeeper for the team,� Gilderdale said. “At the first game, on July 27, AC Caldo played against The Donoughts out of Seymour. The game went to overtime and she blocked two goals during the penalty kick, which helped AC Caldo beat The Donoughts.�

The team went on to win all of its games over the next few days, often scoring up an impressive number of goals in each game. The championship game was on July 30: a rematch between AC Caldo and The Donoughts.

The Donoughts were the toughest opponents AC Caldo  faced during the games. As in that first game, on July 27, the championship game ended up in overtime.

AC Caldo was eventually victorious, with a score of 2-1.

“She plans on staying with AC Caldo for another season,� Byron Gilderdale said of his daughter. “The team plays year round. It keeps going on even when the snow flies.�

He said winning the medal at the Nutmeg Games was an incredible experience for Lauren.

“She’s been playing soccer since second grade,� Gilderdale said. “ She can play basketball too, but soccer is her real love.�

Lauren recently entered the seventh grade at North Canaan Elementary School and plays on the school’s soccer team.

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