Massachusetts, Connecticut, NEPSAC crown high school champs

November 22nd, 2010

The last high school championships in New England were decided over the last weekend before Thanksgiving in both boys and girls soccer. Connecticut crowned eight champions and Massachusetts crowned six, while the private school NEPSAC championships saw eight teams claim regional championships.

The Connecticut Class LL boys' state title went to Farmington after a 2-1 over the defending champion Staples. It was the Indians second title in the last three years thanks to a first half goal by Adrian Kukula and a freekick strike by Kevin Michalak for the gamewinner in the 26th minute of the second half. Court Lake got the goal for Staples. In Class L, the boys' championship went to New Canaan as Steven Valente and Jon-Luke Ferrandino each scored while Scott Levene made six saves in a 2-0 win over Bunnell. As for Class M, Montville and Bethel shared the title. Goals by Montville’s Tyler Leeman and Bethel’s Joseph Merheb cancelled each other out, and neither team could find a goal despite 40 minutes of OT. By Connecticut state rule, co-champs were declared. Lastly, goals from Joe Pantuosco, Donald Whittle and Lorenzo Rolocut led Somersto a 3-1 win over Valley Regional in Class S.

In Connecticut girls' action, the Class LL championship went to Shelton as Alex Farley's 41st minute goal was enough in a 1-0 win over Westhill. RHAM High School nabbed the Class L title with a 2-1 win over Avon. Kristen Brett and Sydney Aldrich got on the board for RHAM, while Erica Primovic struck for Avon's lone tally. The most dramatic finish came in Class M. Suffield's Stephanie Guminiak struck with just second remaining in regulation in a 1-0 win over Lewis Mills. Both teams were 19-0 heading into a game that was evenly matched and decided on a late free kick. Finally, the Class S title went to Immaculate for the third straight year and seventh in the last eight years as Lindsay Jossick's goal gave the dynasty another title with a 1-0 win over Morgan.

Meanwhile in the Bay State, New Bedford captured the Division 1 boys' title with a convincing 4-1 win over Ludlow behind two goals and an assist from Chris Pereira. It was the 16th state title for the Lions, who also got goals from Alex Goncalves and Kyle Thomas. In Division 2, a 2-1 win over Nipmuc gave Concord-Carlisle its second straight state title. Mikey O’Brien and Stowe Simonton scored in the win. As for Division 3, Dover-Sherborn got its first title since 1992 after Cam Bielski gave them the lead over Lenox with left than 28 minutes to play. Dover-Sherborn went on to win 2-0.

As for the Massachusetts girls' championships, Cental Catholic completed a storybook season with a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury behind goals from Courtney Walsh and Jill Lane as well as phenomenal goalkeeping throughout the tournament by Jan Hatzikonstantis. The Division 2 title belongs to Medfield, who made short work of Auburn in a 4-0 win behind goals from Kate Wasley, Katelyn Murray, Isabelle Hacket and Shea Newman. And in Division 3, Emma Dagres got two goals to lead Weston to a 3-1 win over Sutton.

The prep school NEPSAC championships were also decided last weekend. On the boys' side, Northfield Mt. Herman beat Kent, 3-2 in double OT, for the Class A championship. South Kent topped Noble & Greenough in the Class B final, 2-1. In Class C, Holderness beat Millbrook, 1-0, while Watkinson beat Bancroft , 3-0. In girls' NEPSAC action, Noble & Greenough won the Class A championship with a 2-0 win over Westminster. Class B went to Kingswood Oxford thanks to a 1-0 win over Worcester Academy. In Class C, it was Groton with a 1-0 win over Wheeler, while the Class D crown went to Southfield with a 1-0 win over Hampden Hall.