The Hall boys soccer season ended with a loss to defending champion Glastonbury in the CIAC Class LL final on Sunday.
Clay Courtmanche. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Marlon Pitter. Photos by Ronni Newton
Despite playing an aggressive second half, the No. 2 Hall boys soccer team failed to score in a 1-0 loss in the CIAC Class LL championship game against defending champion No. 8 Glastonbury at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain on Sunday afternoon.
Alec Hughes scored the game-winning goal for the Tomahawks with 16:20 remaining in the first half. The Glastonbury goal ended a six-game shutout streak for Hall. Neither team had allowed a goal in the tournament prior to the championship game.
An underwhelming first 40 minutes plagued the Warriors, head coach Zeke Seguro said, but the team responded after the break trying to even the score.
“I don’t think we played well the first half,” Seguro said. “A lot of that had to do with inexperience, nerves and just too frantic of a pace, but I think when we came out of the locker room at halftime – the last 40 minutes – I thought we were the team I know we could be.”
Hall maintained possession for nearly the entire second half. The Warriors sustained attack gave them an edge on corner kicks late in the game and created opportunities to score on set pieces.
“We put ourselves in a spot to get a goal – it just didn’t happen,” Seguro said.
The offensive push, however, meant the Tomahawks could counter off turnovers. Hughes nearly scored his second goal of the game, missing an open net with 18:30 remaining in the second half.
Despite a rough start, the Warriors had chances to score in the first half. A Hall player sent a shot over the net in the third minute of play. Later in the half, Evan Lombardo sent a free kick into the box, but the Glastonbury netminder punched it away with under two minutes left.
With the loss, Hall finishes the season 18-2-1. The Warriors made their first state championship game appearance since 1983 and 11th overall but could not secure the program’s first title for the West Hartford team since 1980.
The Warriors will graduate 15 seniors from the roster – including key contributors Matthew Azia, Clay Courtmanche, Charlie Cubbage, Enrik Pretashi, and Max Seguro – who Zeke Seguro praised after the game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my seniors,” said Zeke Seguro. “They did a phenomenal job with their leadership. They’re just good kids, and they deserve this moment.
“They’re hurting right now, but this was an amazing experience for them playing in front of this huge crowd, and I think they added some excitement to the community and to the student body.”
On the heels of a historic season, Zeke Seguro said he is proud of the team’s success this year and optimistic for the future of the program.
“To get to this point, that’s step one,” he said. “We believe we can get back, and let’s see what happens.”
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Goalie Max Kaiser Kershen makes a save. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jack Brockway. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Liam Wilson. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Goalie Max Kaiser Kershen goal kick. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Charlie Cubbage. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Goalie Max Kaiser Kershen makes a save. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jamie Cowan. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Clay Courtmanche takes a throw-in/ Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Enrik Pretashi. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Ted Monnes races for the ball. Evan Lombardo is in background. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Ted Monnes. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Evan Jones. Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall vs. Glastonbury Class LL State Championship. Nov. 18, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
[…] LL boys soccer championships, which was played Sunday afternoon rather than Saturday morning. (Story and photos here.) Hall was playing for the championship for the first time since 1983. Sadly they lost to perennial […]
[…] “Our success this year has a lot to do with these two as well as the whole senior class,” said Seguro. On Sunday, the Hall boys played for the Class LL championship, losing 1-0 to Glastonbury. […]