The soccer team loses close contest to cross town West Haven and the Green Knights add a former ACC swimmer to its swim team coaching staff in a light week of Notre Dame athletics due to the SCC bye week for football and cross country not running in any meets.
Soccer — Matthew Consorte scored a goal to pull Notre Dame within 2-1 against cross-town rival West Haven with 12 minutes left in the game. Unfortunately, the Green Knights couldn’t get the equalizer and then Mother Nature ended the game early as West Haven swept the season series with a 2-1 win on Oct. 2. Aldo Barragan and Matthew Ffrench scored a goal in each half for the Blue Devils. Notre Dame then lost to Branford, 8-0, on Friday, Oct. 5. They have two games this week hosting New Haven schools Cross and Hillhouse/Career.
Swimming — The Notre Dame of West Haven swim team has added a former all-state swimmer and captain of the University of Virginia swim team to its coaching staff.
Eric Holden, who was hired as the Green Knights physical education teacher in the summer, now has an added responsibility as he will join the Notre Dame Swim Team coaching staff as the Associate Head Coach joining Head Coach Mike O’Brien, and Assistant Coach Chris Smith for the upcoming season.
“We are thrilled that Eric will join our swim team coaching staff,” said Notre Dame Athletic Director Jason Shea. “His accomplishments in the pool speak for themselves. He will be a great compliment to our current coaching staff and will bring a ton of experience to our current team members.”
“I am beyond excited to be working with the Notre Dame swim and dive team this season,” said Holden. “I am looking forward to being back in the competitiveness of the SCC Conference and to be coaching such a hard-working team. Notre Dame has such a rich tradition of success in swimming, and I am happy to be a part of it.”
Holden, who starred locally at Amity High School, graduated from the University of Virginia in 2017 with a combination Masters of Teaching and bachelors of Science in Education. He spent last year as a Paraeducator in the Special Education Department at Osborn Hill Elementary School in Fairfield before joining Notre Dame this academic year.
In the pool, Holden was a member of the 2013 ACC Championship Team and competed on the Virginia 2014-15 and 2015-16 ACC title teams. His time in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:57.66) is 10th all-time in UVA history. He received the 2015 Brooke Maury Swimming Award for leadership, competitive spirit and unselfishness in the interest of the UVA Athletics Department.
A four-year all-state selection at Amity and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Holden was a three-time Connecticut State Open Champion in the 100 breaststroke. He was also a two-time MVP selection by the New Haven Register as well as Amity’s Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.
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