Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Family Roots Both Ways When (Worcester State's) Rotatori's Square Off"

Family roots both ways when Rotatoris square off

September 17, 2008

By Jen Toland, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Sports

Worcester, MA --- Ken and Conny Rotatori's loyalties were definitely split as they watched the WPI-Worcester State women's soccer game yesterday at Alumni Field.

Their daughter Tiffany is a senior forward for WSC. Their daughter Hilary is a junior defender for the Engineers.

"We'd settle for a tie," Ken said.

Tiffany assisted on Worcester State's first goal, scored by Amanda Santos, and added her fourth goal of the year in the second half as the Lancers prevailed, 4-0.

Conny captured it all on her camcorder and took some pictures for the family album afterward.

The sisters played against each other as collegians for the first time last year. Tiffany scored as the Lancers took a 3-0 victory.

"It's fun," Tiffany said, "and being the older sister, I want to beat her."

The sisters had some one-on-one battles in last year's game, but didn't matchup yesterday.

Tiffany and Hilary, whose younger sister Brittany is on the soccer team at Auburn High, were teammates when they first started playing for the town team, but their age difference (1-1/2 years) kept them separated until they got to high school. They were teammates for one year at Auburn.

Backyard games usually featured Ken and Brittany against Conny, Tiffany and Hilary. Brittany, who couldn't make yesterday's game because she had practice, scored in Auburn's 5-1 win over Tantasqua Monday night.

"You try to split your time between all of their games and get to as many as we can," Conny said. "We enjoy it."

Tiffany was a second-team All-MASCAC selection last year as she led the Lancers in scoring with 13 goals and 3 assists and helped WSC to its fourth straight NCAA appearance. The Lancers advanced to the Sweet 16 round. Tiffany scored four of WSC's five goals in its three NCAA games.

Observers say Tiffany was the best player on the field in WSC's 2-1 win over No. 16 Union in the second round.

Under new coach Kevin Cumberbatch, who was WSC's first assistant last year, the Lancers are 3-1-1 and seeking a return to the NCAAs.

"Definitely," Tiffany said, "and we're hoping to go further. It's my senior year. I want to go as far as we can."

Tiffany leads the Lancers with four goals and two assists. She netted the Lancers' goal in an impressive 1-0 win over No. 13 Wheaton last week.

Tiffany is finishing up her studies in psychology and will graduate in May. She's considering a career as a guidance counselor or sports psychologist. She volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Tiffany said she and Hilary talk every night, but there was no mention of yesterday's game in their conversations this week.

"But it is cool to play against each other at this level," Hilary said.

Hilary has been to a couple of Tiffany's games this year as a spectator, sneaking in some studying while she's there.

A civil engineering major, Hilary will travel to Thailand (with a visit to Hawaii on the return trip) in January as part of her Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP). She will be researching tsunamis and studying solar energy. In addition to her regular course load, she's taking Thai classes Monday nights.

Hilary has helped the Engineers to a 4-3 start. They won back-to-back games against Elms and Fitchburg State last week. Hilary had an assist in the 2-0 win over Elms.

"She's probably our purest defender," WPI coach Stephanie Carlson said. "She's very hard to get past. She's fast, she's tenacious. She's a good, solid player."