Lynn Breakers heading to Ireland

The Lynn Breakers U-18 girls soccer team is heading to the Emerald Isle this summer to test its skills against teams from all over the world.The Lynn Youth Soccer team, which includes high school players from Classical, English, St. Mary?s, Bishop Fenwick and Austin Prep, will hold a fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. at Gannon Golf Course to raise money for its trip to Limerick, Ireland, where the Breakers will play in the 25th Emerald Cup Tournament.Former Lynn City Councilor Tim Phelan has coached many of the girls on the team for the past 10-12 years and this particular team for the past six years.?This is a great opportunity for these girls,” Phelan said. “I?m very proud of the kids for making it this far.”Phelan said the Breakers have been Essex County champions three times and they?ve won six different tournaments. They?ve played 76 games together and have only lost 17 of those games. Phelan said the players go to various high schools, (including his daughter Meghan, who is a senior at Austin Prep), but he?s fortunate to have them all on the same team.The roster also includes Krista Cuozzo, Francesca Galeazzi, Rebecca Potter, Jill Strileckis and Brianna Silva from Classical; Nicolette Angelli, Karissa Burton, Briana Goulet, Katherine Lozano, Taegon Nelson, Veronica Uk and Rachael Roy from English; Rachel Hanlon and Erin McManus from St. Mary?s and Annette Ruggiero from Bishop Fenwick.The Breakers are one of only five teams from the United States that will be playing in the tournament. It will be held over a 6-7 day span beginning in late July and continuing into early August. Phelan said most of his players are seniors, but there are a few juniors and a sophomore.?What has really been enjoyable has been being able to coach these kids from the time they were toddlers to now that they?re young women,” he said.Phelan said they went from being dropped off by their parents to driving themselves to practice.?They?re excellent students and they?ve really done a lot of giving back,” Phelan said.For the past three years they?ve taken the Polar Plunge on New Year?s Day in Salem to help raise money to fight hunger on the North Shore. They?ve also run 5K races as a team, including one to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital?s Pediatric Cancer Research and one to benefit women?s advocacy groups on the North Shore. The players have also volunteered a number of times at Connery elementary school, where Phelan?s wife is the vice principal.?They?re all about team and working hard,” Phelan said. “They?re very excited to go over there and represent the city of Lynn and represent the United States.”?It?s really cool,” Galeazzi said. “It?s been six years (playing on the Breakers). You don?t really realize how much you?ve done or how much you?ve accomplished. After six years, this is kind of the topping on the cake.”Galeazzi, who plays soccer, basketball and softball at Classical, said this will be her first time traveling outside the country.?To go with these girls is the best thing,” she said. “This made my whole year.”English senior Nicolette Angelli said even though her Breaker teammates go to different high schools, they?re best friends and they support each other. “We?ve done a lot of stuff together,” she said. “We?ve gone to places in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but we?ve never done anything like this. To get this opportunity is unbelievable.”While they?re over there, players will live in dormitories with players from other countries at the University of Limerick. The focus will be on soccer, but Phelan said he thinks there?ll be some afternoons where they can get away and do a little sightseeing. He said they?ll need to raise about $2,000 per player.?It?s going to be a very difficult task raising the money,” Phelan said. “But I look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity.”The fundraiser at Gannon will feature appetizers, music and raffles. The suggested donation is $25.