Glastonbury stands in the way of a title  

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Naugatuck’s Thomas Martins (7) fights for the ball with Norwalk’s Maicol Ruiz (17) and Will Gaviria (28) during the Class LL semifinal Monday in Newtown. Naugatuck won the game, 1-0, in overtime. – STEVEN VALENTI/REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

The Class LL boys soccer state final is set as No. 1 Naugatuck will go up against No. 2 Glastonbury for the title.

“It hasn’t quite hit me yet that on Saturday we will be playing in the state final against Glastonbury, and it’s really something special for me, this team and the entire town of Naugatuck,” said Naugatuck head coach Ryan Kinne following the Greyhounds’ overtime win over Norwalk in the semifinals.

The championship game is Saturday at 1 p.m. at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

Naugatuck and Glastonbury are not complete strangers. Naugatuck (19-1-2) took part in a preseason jamboree in early September hosted by the Tomahawks (16-2-1).

There is also a bit of a history between these two soccer communities. Glastonbury ended the Greyhounds’ run of back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002 when the Tomahawks upended Naugatuck in the 2003 quarterfinals.

Glastonbury has become a giant among giants in Connecticut soccer. The Tomahawks, who play in the Central Connecticut Conference, won back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015 after finishing as co-champions in 2013.

Going back further, the Tomahawks finished 2003 as co-champions and won the 2005 state title. They were runner-up in 2007 and 2008.

It’s been 15 years since the Greyhounds played for a state championship, and they will have their work cut out for them come Saturday.

The Tomahawks have made quick work of their opponents in the tournament. They earned a first-round bye then knocked off No. 18 Southington, 3-0, in the second round, No. 23 Danbury, 3-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 6 Farmington, 1-0, in the semifinals. They have scored 55 goals on the season and allowed 17.

Naugatuck has ruled the roost in the NVL, winning the league title for five straight years. The Greyhounds have scored 48 goals on the season and allowed just seven. During NVL play, the Greyhounds’ defense has allowed just six goals in the last two seasons.

Naugatuck’s run to the title game started with a first-round bye as well. The Greyhounds beat No. 17 East Hartford, 2-0, in the second, No. 25 Wilbur Cross, 4-2, in the quarterfinals and No. 20 Norwalk, 1-0, in overtime in the semifinals.

Every statistic will be tossed out the window though when these two worthy opponents with storied histories take the field Saturday for a state championship.

“It doesn’t matter who we are playing,” Naugatuck goal keeper Aren Seeger said. “We just want to go there, play our hearts out and bring home the state championship.”