Naugy starts new era with win

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Naugatuck’s Devon Curtis takes down a Wilby attacker Sept. 9 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 7-0. –KEN MORSE
Naugatuck’s Devon Curtis takes down a Wilby attacker Sept. 9 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 7-0. –KEN MORSE

NAUGATUCK — The new era of Naugatuck boys soccer began Sept. 9 as the Greyhounds looked very much like a three-time defending NVL champion.

Naugatuck easily disposed of Wilby, 7-0, in the season-opener.

“The guys were excited to come out and get this first win,” first-year Naugatuck head coach Ryan Kinne said. “I thought we performed really well on both sides of the ball. I think our defense showed the kind of depth we have on this team with one of our leading defenders, Yan Silva, out with an injury.”

The defense wasted no time in exercising authority taking away numerous Wilby advances. Aren Seeger and Zack Alves combined for three saves in net for the Greyhounds.

The Greyhounds’ defense, led by Devon Curtis, Gabriel Carrelo, Dave Ruela and Sam Rego, limited the Wildcats’ opportunities throughout the game. That allowed numerous chances for the Naugatuck offense to get on track.

Pedro DeSouza got Naugatuck on the board by converting a penalty kick at 37:36 in the first half. DeSouza then dished a pass to Ben Arruda, who buried one to the back of the net at 21:38, and the Greyhounds began to take over the game.

Brandon Vieira and Matt Carroll added goals in the final ten minutes of the first half as Naugatuck was safely out in front, 4-0, at the intermission.

“We had a lot of combinations and created many opportunities on a sequence of passes,” Kinne said. “For the first game of the season that was good to see. It creates a problem for defenses as they can’t just sit back and mark any particular player, especially with seven different players scoring for us.”

Naugatuck closed the deal with goals from Tommy Martin, Candido Carrelo and Christian Jacobi in the second half.

Naugatuck and Seymour battled to a 0-0 tie on Monday.

Seeger made four saves in the net for Naugatuck (1-0-1). The Greyhounds got off nine shots to Seymour’s five shots in a defensive struggle. Peter Ragaini made five saves in the net for Seymour.

Pedro Mendes had the Greyhounds best opportunity in the first half, but Ragaini managed to swat away. With a minute to go in the game, Vieira took a pass from Mendes but the shot, which eluded Ragaini, banged off the post.

“There are no nights off in the NVL. Seymour has some very good players and on Friday we take on Woodland in a rematch of last year’s NVL championship game,” Kinne said. “We need to stay focused every time we get on the field. The key will be to continue and play solid defense and utilize everyone on offense to create opportunities.”

Naugatuck will host Woodland on Friday at 6 p.m.