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11/14/2018 11:00 PMBoys’ Soccer
For the second year in a row, the Morgan boys’ soccer team has earned the right to play for a state title. The No. 4 seed Huskies solidified their spot in the Class S State Tournament final by earning a 3-0 win over No. 9 seed Notre Dame-Fairfield in a semifinal contest at Falcon Field in Meriden on Nov. 14. Defending Class S champion Morgan has a record of 17-2-2 as the team prepares to face Old Saybrook for the crown.
Morgan’s offense was bolstered by a pair of goals from junior Zach Tuccitto, as well as a score by senior David Saturno, in its win versus Notre Dame. Junior goalie Nick Rubino made two saves in net for the Huskies, who pelted the opposing keeper with 17 shots on goal.
Morgan didn’t waste any time getting on the score sheet as Tuccitto scored the first goal of the game off an assist from Saturno in the 7th minute. Twenty minutes later, the pair connected for another goal when Tuccitto assisted Saturno to give the Huskies a 2-0 advantage. With five minutes left in the contest, Tuccitto netted his second goal of the game on an assist from senior Carter Skidmore to put a bow on Morgan’s 3-0 victory.
Morgan will take on rival Old Saybrook in the Class S championship game on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 12:30 p.m. at Middletown High School.
Girls’ Soccer
The Morgan girls’ soccer squad’s season came to a close when the Huskies took a defeat against Lewis Mills in the semifinals of the Class M State Tournament at Nassahegan Field in Burlington on Nov. 9. No. 5 seed Morgan went up against top-seeded Lewis Mills and lost a 4-3 contest that was decided by a 4-2 differential on penalty kicks. The Huskies finished their campaign with an excellent overall record of 17-2-3 and the program’s first Shoreline Conference title in 15 years.
Junior Alyssa Smith scored a pair goals, while freshman Taylor Maher also had a goal for Morgan versus Lewis Mills. Senior goalkeeper Rebecca Cockley made seven saves for the Huskies, who were outshot 10-7.
Lewis Mills struck first by scoring a goal at the 22:55 mark of the first half. Morgan answered back less than two minutes later, when Maher scored off an assist from Smith to make it 1-1. The score remained tied until Smith scored a goal 4:39 into the second half for a 2-1 Huskies’ advantage. With 13:30 left in regulation, the Centaurs tied the score by converting on a penalty kick.
With neither team leading at the end of regulation, Morgan and Lewis Mills had to play two 10-minute overtime periods to try and determine a winner. Lewis Mills took a 3-2 lead by scoring a goal one minute into the first overtime. With 1.8 left in the first OT, Smith netted her second goal of the game to tie the score. The second overtime period went by with neither team scoring a goal, and so the two sides went to penalty kicks to decide the outcome. Lewis Mills won by the penalty-kick session by a 4-2 margin to advance to the final.
Morgan Head Coach Steve Sullivan was proud of his players for their effort in the defeat. Lewis Mills entered the matchup with an undefeated record, and this contest marked the first time that the Centaurs even trailed in a game all season.
“This was a very exciting, but nerve-wracking game, with lots of back-and-forth action,” said Sullivan. “It was the first time undefeated Lewis Mills has had to play from behind this season. Lewis Mills only gave up two goals all season. It was a very disappointing outcome, but I could not be more proud of my kids, and how hard they played.”