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11/17/2016 11:00 PMGirls’ Soccer
Whenever the Old Saybrook and Portland girls’ soccer teams meet in the Class S State Tournament, the two sides seem to end up playing a classic game. In the 2013 state final, the Rams and Portland played to a 0-0 stalemate through regulation and two overtimes on their way to being co-champions. When Old Saybrook and Portland squared off in their Class S State Tournament semifinal game on Nov. 14, the game went to penalty kicks and Old Saybrook won the session 5-3 for a 2-1 victory that sent the team to its second State Tournament final in program history.
Senior captain Maggie Smith rocketed home the game-winner in penalty kicks to electrify the crowd at Middletown High School.
“My assistant coach knows all the different steps Maggie takes, so we were both sitting next to each other on the ground all jittery and shaking,” first-year Head Coach Berkeley Checchini-Bond said. “Once she made it, we jumped up and it was a crazy moment. We just enjoyed the moment. They were all so excited.”
No. 13 seed Old Saybrook and 24th-seeded Portland played a scoreless first half before Allison Bruehwiler broke the tie. Bruehwiler went 1-on-1 with a defender to the right of goal, won the battle, and put a shot past Portland goalie Julia MacKinnon. Portland tied it minutes later to force overtime and eventually penalty kicks. Goalie Kelsey True made seven saves for the Rams before PKs started. Old Saybrook’s five penalty kicks were scored by Bruehwiler, Arianna Heonis, Alexie Root, Kearney Capuano, and Smith. Portland scored three, but its second attempt went wide of goal, setting up Smith to win it.
“I told the girls before they took their kicks that it all happens for a reason, so there’s no need to feel stressed,” Checchini-Bond said. “If you miss it or make it, everything happens for a reason, and I think that helped calm some nerves.”
Old Saybrook (12-4-5) will play 2nd-seeded Old Lyme (18-1-2) for the Class S title at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at West Haven High School. The two teams played to a 0-0 tie in Old Saybrook on Oct. 3. Old Lyme won the Shoreline Conference Tournament this year was the Class S co-champion last season.
“Old Lyme and Old Saybrook are close towns and a lot of players know each other, so it’s a good rivalry,” Checchini-Bond said. “We have some good momentum and I’m excited for them to have this opportunity. I want them to go out, have fun, and enjoy the moment. My first season has been a whirlwind for sure and I couldn’t have expected a better group of girls.”
Boys’ Soccer
The No. 1 seed Old Saybrook boys’ soccer squad took on No. 5 Notre Dame-Fairfield in a Class S State Tournament semifinal at West Haven High School on Nov. 15. The game was a rematch of last year’s state tourney matchup between the schools, when the Rams came from behind to end Notre Dame’s season. This time, Old Saybrook scored three goals in the first half and went on to a 3-2 victory that advanced to the squad to the Class S final. The Rams, who improved to 19-0-2, will play No. 3 seed Coventry (17-3) for the championship in West Haven on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
“We knew this would be a difficult game this year, but we came prepared and ready to exploit any weakness Notre Dame had,” said Head Coach Sam Barnes on the semifinal triumph. “We scored three unanswered goals, but did not know if that would be enough.”
Austin Hilger scored twice and Ashton Reina netted the Rams’ other goal as they raced out to the 3-0 lead. However, the second half was a different story as the Lancers scored a pair of goals to make it a 3-2 game. Old Saybrook clamped down and staved off Notre Dame’s attack to continue its undefeated season and move on to the state championship. Jonah Nucci made nine saves in goal as Old Saybrook was outshot 22-16 for the game.
“Notre Dame pulled out all the stops and applied heavy pressure and had several quality chances,” Barnes said. “Our defense played with tenacity and composure and was able to hold Notre Dame to only two goals to advance to the finals.”
Old Saybrook will be making its seventh appearance in a state final and its first since 1998. The Rams have won four championships in their history—1956, 1979, 1982, and 1983 (co-champs)—and have been the runner-up in their past two trips to a final (1994 and 1998).
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
Sophomore Morgan Leopoldino finished in the top 10 of two events while representing Old Saybrook at the Class S State Championship, earning the Rams a 20th-place finish with 45 points scored at Wesleyan University on Nov. 16.
Leopoldino competed in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500 freestyle at the state meet. In the 500 freestyle, Leopoldino finished third with a time of 5:25.92 to make All-State. Then in the 200 free, Leopoldino placed ninth overall at 2:04.44. Both of Leopoldino’s times were faster than her marks at the Class S State Qualifier.