Greyhounds finishing on offense

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Naugatuck’s Alex Teixeira (2) defends St. Paul’s Ethan Rembish (3) Oct. 13 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 7-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck boys soccer team has been finding the back of the net with some regularity of late.

The Greyhounds tallied 20 goals over the last four games — all wins.

“We have been consistent finishing on offense,” Naugatuck head coach Ryan Kinne said. “We will need to continue to do that as we face some tough teams heading into the final week of the season.”

“Defensively we have been getting the job done,” Kinne added. “But at times we lose focus and don’t finish on offense. We need to keep our form and continue to take advantage of our opportunities.”

Senior Matt Carroll kept his focus in last Friday’s 7-1 win over St. Paul, putting four in the net to lead the Greyhounds (10-1-1) to victory. Yan Silva added two goals and Felipe Pereira scored a goal to complete the scoring for the ‘Hounds. Tom Martins and Jay Barth provided assists with Zach Alves recording seven saves in net.

Naugatuck has the tools in the shed on offense with Christian Jacobi, Jake Corbo, Vinicius Knupp, Pereira, Martins and Christian Akinduro.

“We are not relying on one or two players to get the offense going,” Kinne said. “We have some very capable offensive players, we just need to play smart and make the most out of our chances.”

It has been the influence of Silva and Sam Rego on defense and Aren Seeger in the net that has kept the Greyhounds in the top spot in the NVL. The St. Paul goal was the third Naugatuck allowed this year.

Naugatuck’s Christian Jacobi (5) battles with St. Paul’s Spencer Sinkwich (6) for the ball Oct. 13 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 7-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Greyhounds will start the final stretch of the season Thursday versus Oxford in a rematch of last year’s NVL title game.

“It’s their senior night so they will be pumped up,” Kinne said. “We played them for the NVL championship last year so you know they are going to be coming after us.”

The Greyhounds will host Torrington on Saturday at 2 p.m. Naugy will finish out the regular season next week with Kennedy on Monday and Watertown on Wednesday. Watertown is second in the NVL behind Naugatuck.

With the postseason around the corner, Kinne said the key for a deep run is consistency on offense.

“If we expect to go further in the NVL tournament and the state tournament we are going to need to be consistent on offense and not leave it all in the hand of our defense,” Kinne said.