Conard Girls Soccer Falls to Hall on Senior Day - We-Ha

Hall beats Conard to take the season series (1-0-1) as both teams set their sights on the Class LL tournament beginning Monday, Nov. 5.

Hall’s Giovanna Dionicio (27) scored the first goal of the game. Conard vs. Hall girls soccer. Oct. 29, 2018. Photo credit: Hunter Marotto

By Marlon Pitter. Photos by Hunter Marotto

The Hall High School girls soccer team scored twice to spoil Conard’s Senior Day en route to a 2-0 victory Monday afternoon at Robert J. McKee Stadium in West Hartford.

Giovanna Dionicio scored the game-winning goal in the first half as she found the ball in the box off a Jordan Farrell corner kick among a slew of Warriors and Chieftains with 21:10 remaining in the first half.

Lise Farstad sent a rebound into the net with 22:40 to play in the second half to double Hall’s lead at 2-0.

“I liked our second half today. I thought our second half today was much better. I thought we played the ball really well,” said Hall head coach Scott Ferguson. “We tried to play with a purpose and not just kick and not just run. … I thought our passing was just so much better. We just created better opportunities.”

Chieftains goalkeeper Jessica McNally made a number of saves to withstand the Warriors’ pressure, including two in the first three minutes of play.

Conard had its opportunities get on the board, but they were not as dangerous as Hall’s opportunities. Hall goalkeeper Sarah Peschke stopped a shot by the Chieftains in the 38th minute that would have tied the game at one apiece before halftime.

Peschke bailed the Warriors out in the 52nd minute as Conard senior Kate Shaffer created her own opportunity to take a shot on goal.

The Warriors tallied an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks and a 12-8 discrepancy in shots.

With the win, Hall finishes the regular season 9-4-3 and moves from 16th to 14th in the CIAC Class LL rankings. Conard falls to 8-7-1 and drops from 20th to 21st.

The Warriors will host a first-round game in the Class LL tournament on Monday, Nov. 5, while the Chieftains will play on the road. Their opponents and game times will be announced on Friday.

Conard head coach Kerrie Massaro said her 10 seniors have been essential to the team success this year and throughout their careers. Now, their experience will carry the Chieftains forward through the state tournament.

“Their contributions have been huge,” Massaro said. “The four that were starters are also the four captains [and] the ones that have been on there since sophomore year. They’ve been with me for three years, and they’ve contributed to many, many wins for Conard.”

Ferguson said the Warriors’ goal now is to win a state championship and his team will be ready for whoever they draw in the tournament come Monday.

“How can you go into a tournament and not think you’re going to win it?” he asked. “I really do like our team, and I think we can compete against anyone.”

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