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09/10/2018 12:00 AMFootball
The Valley Regional-Old Lyme (VR-OL) football team started off 2018 on the right foot as the Warriors notched a 42-6 home victory versus Ellington in their season opener on Sept. 7. The Warriors are looking to have another good year after going 9-2 and qualifying for the Class S State Playoffs last season.
Valley-Old Lyme leaped out to an early lead against Ellington when senior captain Nick Braga took back the opening kickoff all the way for an 82-yard touchdown return. Valley scored two more touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 21-0 lead and then added on two more TDs in the second quarter for a 35-0 advantage.
After an scoreless third quarter, Ellington got on the board by scoring a touchdown in the fourth to make it 35-6. The Warriors came back with their final TD of the night for the 42-6 win.
In his first varsity start at quarterback, senior captain Ryan Santos completed four passes for more than 100 yards passing and also ran for a pair of touchdowns. Braga had two huge kickoff returns with the 82-yard score in the first half and a 78-yard return to the 5-yard line to set up the final score of the game, a run from senior Jae’len Arnum. Jason O’Brien lead the receiving core with two catches and 57 yards, and he also grabbed an interception on defense for Head Coach Tim King’s squad.
Boys’ Soccer
The Valley boys’ soccer team picked up a 3-2 victory over East Hampton in its first game of the year on Sept. 8.
The Warriors got out to a slow start in the game. East Hampton put one in the back of the net within the first two minutes to take a 1-0 lead. After settling down, Valley was able to get control of the game and create some chances on offense. The first half ended with the Bellringers up 1-0.
In the second half, senior Michael Dilger tied the game off a helper from Daniel Hearn. East Hampton took a 2-1 advantage with 18 minutes remaining by converting on a free kick that bounced off the crossbar, then ricocheted off the keeper’s back and into the goal.
Valley knotted the game back up with an unassisted goal from freshman Jake Burdick to make it 2-2. Shortly after that, Burdick got the ball back to Dilger, who dribbled in the go-ahead after getting past the Bellringers’ keeper, who had come out to challenge him.
The Warriors are coming off season that saw them finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Shoreline Conference and post an overall record of 11-6-2. Head Coach Mick Fearon’s squad defeated Coginchaug 6-3 in the Shoreline quarterfinals, before losing to eventual co-champion Haddam-Killingworth in the semis. The Warriors also qualified for the Class M State Tournament, where they took a first-round loss to Tolland.
Field Hockey
The Warriors grabbed a win in their first game of the season by defeating Waterford, 5-1, at home on Sept. 8.
Valley was bolstered by a strong game on offense from sophomore Tory Rider, who scored three goals in the contest. Sophomore Leah Bargnesi added a goal and an assist, as did fellow sophomore Abby Amara. Senior Annie Cooper had a pair of helpers in the victory, and Riley Mibrune added an assist, as well.
Valley finished last year with a record of 10-4-3-1 after making it to the Shoreline Conference Tournament final for the second straight season and qualifying for the Class S State Tournament. In Shorelines, Head Coach Beth Powers’s squad earned a 2-1 overtime win versus Westbrook. Facing North Branford in the final, the Warriors took a 2-1 defeat against Thunderbirds in overtime. The Warriors later took a 2-0 loss to Canton in the first round of the Class S State Tournament.