The Hall boys soccer team hosted Simsbury on Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the Class LL tournament.

Hall forward Lucas Almeida fights the Simsbury double team. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

It is that time of year for the Hall boys soccer team, where one bad play, one off night could mean the end of the season.

Zeke Seguro’s team faced that obstacle in Wednesday’s second round game against Simsbury in the CIAC Class LL state tournament. A miscommunication on defense put the Titans in a 1-0 hole just 3:50 into the game. “It was  nervewracking,” said Seguro.

But his team – which has not lost a game this season – responded by scoring the next four goals to advance to the quarterfinals with the 4-1 win. “I am pleased with how we responded,” said the Hall coach of his team’s effort.

It didn’t take long for the Hall offense to respond, and once again the push started with All-American Lucas Almeida. Playing along the left wing, he consistently work through double and sometimes triple teams to move the ball into a dangerous area.

Hall sophomore John Hunt splits two Simsbury players as he controls the ball. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Almeida found teammate Sam Sandler in front of the Simsbury goal, but Sandler’s blast went straight into the belly of a defender. Moments later Hall did get the equalizer, when Gabe Sisk found the back of the net with 5:02 played in the game.

Both sides settled into a game of ball control, with Simsbury being content to load up the defensive zone and work to transition to offense. Almeida and Sisk both had goal scoring chances just over halfway into the half, but both bounded off Simsbury defenders. TJ Pearlman had one of the Trojans’ best chances when he unleased a shot on goal that went just over the cross bar.

Gabe Sisk of Hall controls the ball. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Then with just under 6 minutes to play in the first half, Hall goalie Tyler Fairchild was called on to make a solid save off a shot from an angle by Nolan Hussey. Just when it looked like the game was going to go to the intermission a tie, Hall picked up the offense and managed to get multiple shots towards the Simsbury goal that were blocked, but Almeida picked up a loose ball and with the clock running out moved the ball into a better shooting angle and drilled one into the lower left corner with 1.5 seconds to play to make it 2-1.

“Lucas played well,” said Seguro. “He could have had another assist as he was trying to do what’s right and be the setup guy.”

Almeida’s late first-half goal seemed to shift the balance of play, as the host Titans – now 15-0-2 – controlled nearly the entire final 40 minutes. Hall adapted its game and instead of using its feared speed game against the packed in defense, resorted to passing combinations for movement. That loosened things up and, led to more opportunities. “We tried to use our speed as much as possible,” said Sandler. “I’m not sure any other team in the state has our speed.”

Hall’s Lucas Almeida lines up his second goal of the game. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Hall struck early in the second half when Almeida and Sandler hooked up. Almeida – who signed his National Letter of Intent earlier in the day and will be playing for UConn next season – raced down the near sideline, running past defenders, and as he neared the backline, cut a pass back into the center of the box. The ball took a bounce and Sandler let his shot go from about 20 yards out that found the back of the net and gave Hall a two-goal lead just 4:08 into the half.

The same duo nearly made it 4-1 just 45 seconds later when Sandler got open and used his speed to move down the far sideline and launch a nearly perfect cross into the middle of the box about 6 yards from the goal mouth. Almeida, a Simsbury defender, and Trojan goalie Andrew Westhaver converged on the ball, with Westhaver just getting a hand on it ahead of Almeida’s head to clear the ball.

Jack DeLoreto of Hall moves around a Simsbury player. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Sixteen minutes in, Simsbury mounted a quick attack that saw Hall defender Jack DeLoreto go high to head a dangerous cross out of the area. Just 10 minutes after that, Almeida would get his second goal of the game. Once again it was he and Sandler teaming up, this time Sandler squared the ball to Almeida, he took single touch and drove a low shot into the righthand corner. “We like to compete and to score,” Sandler said of his entire squad. “We need that if we want to win a state title.”

Hall’s hard work during the regular season has allowed them to host the first two tournament games, Wednesday’s win means the quarterfinal game will be back in West Hartford when Hall, the No. 2 seed in Class LL, meets No. 23 seed Fairfield Warde (8-5-5).

That game is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, but with the potential for a weekend storm system, things could change. Hall is the top-rated seed left in Class LL after No. 1 seed Trumbull lost its game Wednesday to Greenwich on penalty kicks.

Eli Rotter (8) and Colin Fairchild (4) fight for position on a corner kick. Hall vs. Simsbury boys soccer, Class LL tournament round two. Nov. 9, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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