Gearing up for tourney

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Naugatuck’s Christian Jacobi (5) controls the ball along the sideline as Oxford’s Erik Kolvig (10) comes in to defend Oct. 21 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck is the No. 1 seed for the NVL tournament, which starts Saturday. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Christian Jacobi (5) controls the ball along the sideline as Oxford’s Erik Kolvig (10) comes in to defend Oct. 21 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck is the No. 1 seed for the NVL tournament, which starts Saturday. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Naugatuck and Woodland boys soccer teams collided in last year’s NVL championship game. The two sides will have their sights set on a potential rematch when the tournament begins on Saturday.

Naugatuck (13-0-3, 13-0-2 NVL) secured No. 1 seed after wins over Kennedy, 1-0, on Monday, Derby, 3-0, on Tuesday, and Watertown, 3-0, on Wednesday. Matt Carroll scored the only goal of the game versus Kennedy and Aren Seeger made six saves in goal for the Greyhounds. Candido Carrello, Brandon Viera and Thomas Martins each had a goal against Derby.

The Hawks (12-1-3, 11-1-3 NVL) are the No. 3 seed following a 7-0 win over Waterbury Career on Monday and a 8-0 win over Crosby on Wednesday. Cole Barrows led the Hawks with two goals scored. Zach Powanda, Senol Music, Dante Polletta, Maciej Lewicki and Ryan Swanson also scored for Woodland.

With a change in format this year, the top seeds will host quarterfinal games on Saturday rather than play games at neutral fields. Naugatuck will host No. 8 Kennedy at 1 p.m. Woodland will host No. 6 Torrington at 2 p.m.

Another change is the final won’t be played at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. The semifinals are Nov. 1 at Seymour High School and the final is Nov. 3 at Naugatuck High.

The Hawks have found the going rough over the past few weeks battling Sacred Heart and Ansonia to 1-1 ties. Naugatuck has found the going just as tough escaping with 1-0 wins over Torrington and Kennedy while battling Oxford to a 1-1 tie.

“I think the biggest challenge we will have is in our thinking,” Woodland head coach Tony Moutinho said. “These guys are only thinking about Naugatuck and I keep telling them that there are two other teams out there with over 10 wins. If we don’t pay attention to the other teams we won’t even get the chance at a rematch.”

There is plenty of competition to go around. Aside from fellow top seeds — Oxford and Watertown — Seymour, Ansonia, Torrington and Kennedy are capable of pulling off an upset.

“There are quite a few teams out there that can beat anyone on any given day,” Naugatuck head coach Ryan Kinne said. “We need to be prepared for everyone’s best. If we play the way we are capable of there is no doubt that we can take care of business.”

Naugatuck is the clear favorite, and not just because they are the three-time defending NVL champs. The Greyhounds have the strongest defense in the league led by Devon Curtis, Yan Silva and Dave Ruela with Seeger and Zach Alves sharing duties in the net. The Greyhounds have allowed just three goals and recorded 12 shutouts. In league play, Naugatuck has allowed just two goals while putting 39 into the back of the net.

Naugatuck doesn’t really need a go-to guy on offense. Gabe Carrelo scored the only goals in a 1-0 win over Torrington and a 1-1 tie to Oxford. On Monday, it was Carroll’s turn to lead the way over Kennedy.

Throughout the season Pedro DeSouza, Vinny Knupp and Martins have found the back of the net with regularity. The only team that appears able to stop Naugatuck is itself.

Woodland’s Maciej Lewicki looks for an open teammate to pass to versus Ansonia Oct. 21 in Beacon Falls. Woodland is the No. 3 seed for the NVL tournament, which starts Saturday. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Maciej Lewicki looks for an open teammate to pass to versus Ansonia Oct. 21 in Beacon Falls. Woodland is the No. 3 seed for the NVL tournament, which starts Saturday. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

“We’ve had some injuries to CJ Carrelo and Vinny Knupp,” Kinne said. “But we are getting healthy at the right time and we will be at full strength.

“As far as not playing the tournament at Municipal Stadium it makes no difference. The lighting was never good there. As far as us having an advantage playing the final in Naugatuck first we have to get there. But it’s no advantage at all. Each team has 11 guys, the field is the same size. There’s no home field advantage when you reach the championship game.”

Woodland snuck in the back door last season after putting on a late-season run. There will be no sneaking around this year as everyone is bringing their best in an effort to knock off the Hawks.

Woodland has peppered the goal with 57 scores and have allowed 17 while recording six shutouts. The Hawks battled Watertown to a scoreless tie and their only loss came at the hands of Naugatuck by a slim 1-0 margin.

Defense is what drives the Hawks with AJ Oliveira in the net and the front line of Xavier Gibson, Zach Powanda and Ryan Swanson. Offensively, they have found a variety of different ways to get it done with Music, Lewicki, Anthony Barreira and Jack LaPerriere finding success in the box.

“Our strength is our defense,” Moutinho said. “If we don’t allow the other team to score we can’t lose. The last few weeks the games have got real close. We have a few injuries but we should be at full strength come tournament time.”