Naugy returns to title game, Hawks fall short of rematch

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Naugatuck’s Jake Corbo (8) heads the ball in front of Kennedy’s Rafael Carneiro (7) Saturday during a quarterfinal match of the NVL tournament at Naugatuck High. Naugatuck won, 4-0, and defeated Ansonia, 2-0, Tuesday in the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Jake Corbo (8) heads the ball in front of Kennedy’s Rafael Carneiro (7) Saturday during a quarterfinal match of the NVL tournament at Naugatuck High. Naugatuck won, 4-0, and defeated Ansonia, 2-0, Tuesday in the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

All season long the Naugatuck and Woodland boys soccer teams were motivated to get back to the NVL title game.

The Greyhounds wanted to get back to defend their NVL title under new coach Ryan Kinne and make it four straight championships. The Hawks wanted a rematch for the championship.

One team made it and the other did not.

No. 1 Naugatuck defeated No. 5 Ansonia, 2-0, Tuesday in a semifinal match to reach the championship game. The Greyhounds will play No. 2 Oxford (13-2-1) Thursday at 5 p.m. at Naugatuck High for the championship.

The Greyhounds (14-0-3) didn’t need much offense as the defense, led by David Ruela, Yan Silva, Devon Curtis and goalie Aren Seeger, shut out the Chargers (11-4-2). Matt Carroll got the ‘Hounds on the board in the 37th minute on an assist from Yan Silva. With 26 minutes left in the game, Vinny Knupp sent a corner that Curtis headed to the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage.

All season long Woodland head coach Tony Moutinho warned his team that Naugatuck was not the only team they needed to be thinking about, and it came to pass in Tuesday’s semifinal versus Oxford. No. 3 Woodland (13-1-3) fell, 2-0, to Oxford.

Woodland’s Senol Music (18) fends off Torrington’s Nick DalleValle (10) Saturday during a quarterfinal match of the NVL tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland beat Torrington before falling Tuesday to Oxford in the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Senol Music (18) fends off Torrington’s Nick DalleValle (10) Saturday during a quarterfinal match of the NVL tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland beat Torrington before falling Tuesday to Oxford in the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Oxford scored a first half goal from Matt Bickley to put the Wolverines on top. Ali Kalici scored with a little over 20 minutes to play for the insurance goal and goalkeeper Will Richter (5 saves) made it stand up.

Woodland goalie A.J. Oliveira fended off 13 shots in the first half and made eight saves to keep Woodland in the game. He had 11 saves overall on the night. The Woodland offense couldn’t penetrate the Oxford defense and fell one game short of the much desired rematch with Naugatuck.

In the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Naugatuck knocked off No. 8 Kennedy (7-9-1), 4-0. Seeger made two saves in goal for the ‘Hounds. Ruela, Knupp, Brandon Vieira and Carroll scored goals for Naugatuck. Curtis, Tommy Martins, Matheus Santis and Christian Jacobi had the assists.

Woodland got by No. 6 Torrington (11-5-1), 2-0, in the quarterfinals. Oliveira made five saves for the shutout. Anthony Barreira and Devon Polletta scored the goals for Woodland off assists from Christian Poirier and Maciej Lewicki.