All-Decade: Naugatuck top 5 teams, games and plays  

0
677
MIDDLETOWN, CT-031615JS16- Naugatuck head coach Michael Wilson celebrates their 96-83 win over Middletown with players Steve Marinaro (1) and Charles Wall (3) following their Class L quarterfinal game Monday at Middletown High School.
Jim Shannon Republican-American

Top five teams

  1. 2015 Boys Basketball

The Greyhounds’ upset run to Mohegan Sun, led by Jarron Chapman and Dayvon Russell, riled up the Naugy fans and included wild wins over Middletown and Career. The ‘Hounds (21-6) fell to Bunnell in the Class L final, Naugy’s first since 1974.

  1. 2017 Boys Soccer

They won the NVL final in an overtime thriller, reached the Class LL final on a penalty kick in overtime, and lost a 1-0 slugfest to Glastonbury in Naugatuck’s first state final appearance since 2002. Naugy finished 19-2-2.

  1. 2010 Football

Naugatuck’s 38-20 win over Ansonia on Thanksgiving to win the NVL title — the Greyhounds’ first since 2001 — is still remembered every November. It remains Ansonia’s last loss to an NVL foe. The ‘Hounds finished 9-2, losing in the Class L quarters.

  1. 2011 Boys Outdoor Track

Three of Naugy’s all-time best track athletes helped the ‘Hounds finish as the Class L runner-up and the NVL champ. Amanze Williams and Muad Hrezi both went All-New England and won multiple state titles. Jamaal Gee was the NVL’s fastest man.

  1. 2010 Girls Indoor Track

Rosa Moriello and Tori Pisco are two of Naugy’s best all-time runners, and their efforts helped the ‘Hounds win the NVL title and finish fourth in Class L. Both set NVL records at this meet that still stand 10 years later.

Naugatuck’s Aren Seeger (24) makes a save in front of Watertown’s Valdet Tedesco (10) during the NVL championship game in 2017 at Seymour High School. Seeger made four saves on the night but is remember for his goal on a free kick in overtime that proved to be the game-winner. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Top five games

  1. Boys Soccer vs. Watertown (2017)

One of the greatest soccer games ever played in the NVL will always be remembered for Aren Seeger’s 60-yard game-winning goal at the start of double overtime. The eventual 3-1 win over Watertown gave Naugy its fifth straight league championship.

  1. Boys Basketball vs. Career (2015)

Nearly 2,000 fans at East Haven High watched a frantic Class L semifinal in which Jason Bradley heaved a three-quarters-court pass to Jarron Chapman with 7.9 ticks left for a game-sealing dunk in a 65-61 win over Career.

  1. Football vs. Ansonia (2010)

With the NVL championship on the line before an estimated 4,000 fans at Jarvis Stadium, Naugy record 10 sacks — five by Aaron Echevarria — to pull away in a dominant, 38-20 win over Ansonia. Erich Broadrick accounted for all five Naugy TDs.

  1. Volleyball vs. Seymour (2019)

Twenty-one years after the Naugatuck spikers last won an NVL title, Kaylee Jackson and MVP Brielle Behuniak recorded back-to-back kills to break a 13-all tie in the decisive final set to earn a 3-2 win over defending Class M state champ Seymour.

  1. Boys Soccer vs. Norwalk (2017)

No. 1 Naugy dueled No. 20 Norwalk to a scoreless draw in regulation, but Vinny Knupp’s penalty kick just two minutes into overtime was enough for a 1-0 win in the Class LL semifinals to give the ‘Hounds their first state final appearance since 2002.

Naugatuck’s Mike Patton (7) lays out to make a diving catch in center field during a Class LL tournament first round game against Brien McMahon IN 2019 at Naugatuck High School. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Top five plays

  1. Seeger’s midfield OT goal (2017)

Aren Seeger might have gone down in the record books as merely a two-time All-New England hurdler if not for this legendary goal — a 60-yard go-ahead goal on a free kick by the goalie to win the 2017 NVL title. Only Brian Mariano knows that feeling.

  1. Alley-oop in hoops quarters (2015)

With a 59-56 lead in the third quarter of a Class L quarterfinal at sold-out Middletown, Jason Bradley lobbed a pass to Jarron Chapman for a thunderous alley-oop that ignited an 18-9 run. Chapman scored 30 points in Naugy’s 96-83 upset victory.

  1. Knupp’s PK in state semi OT (2017)

Two minutes into overtime of a scoreless Class LL semifinal against Norwalk, Chris Akinduro drew a penalty in the box. Vinny Knupp converted the penalty kick for a 1-0 win and a berth in the state championship.

  1. Bradley’s OT TD vs. Wolcott (2013)

In the first game played on artificial turf at Naugy’s Veterans’ Field, Ryne Griesenauer blocked a Wolcott PAT late in the fourth quarter to force overtime. There, Bradley scored on third-and-goal from the 3 to seal a 42-36 victory before 1,500 fans.

  1. Patton’s diving catch (2019)

During a Class LL first-round game against Brien McMahon, Naugatuck center fielder Mike Patton made a full-extension dive toward the fence to make the catch and preserve Nate Deptula’s one-hitter in a 2-0 victory.