Updated Nov. 16, 2015: Hall has been declared the winner after Bridgeport Central forfeited due to use of an ineligible player. Click here for the complete story on the new development.
Original Story:
No. 13 seed Hall lost to No. 28 seed Bridgeport Central 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Class LL boys soccer tournament in West Hartford on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.
Hall senior captain AJ Speranza takes a shot in the second half. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
The soccer season ended for the Hall High School boys soccer team just over four minutes into Saturday’s Class LL quarterfinal match when Bridgeport Central junior Akeem Mitchell knocked a corner kick past Hall goalie Jeremy Rausch with 35:54 left in the first half.
The Warriors certainly didn’t play like their season was over, with plenty of offensive action aimed at the Bridgeport Central goal.
“We didn’t finish our chances,” Hall head coach Zeke Seguro said. “The last play of the game kind of exemplified that,” Seguro said of a shot that hit the post, hit a Hall player, and then went out of bounds with just seconds left in the game.
“I knew coming in that this was going to be one of our toughest matches,” Seguro said.
“They’re very good,” Seguro said. “They probably have four or five of the best players we’ve played against all year on the field at once.”
Some have called Bristol Central the tournament’s “Cinderella” team, but coach Jay Silverman just said his team has been playing together “amazingly.” The team’s success can’t be credited to a key player returning from injury or anything other than great teamwork, he said.
Bridgeport Central, which entered the tournament with a 6-7-3 record, advanced to the quarterfinals by beating no. 5 seed East Hartford 2-0 in the first round and no. 12 seed Southington in the second round. They will face no. 1 seed Glastonbury, which defeated Simsbury 4-1 on penalty kicks on Saturday, in the semifinals on Tuesday in West Haven.
Mitchell, in his first season with the Hilltoppers, said it felt great to score the goal and that the team has been “practicing very hard.”
Conard High School, which entered the Class LL tournament as a no. 27 seed, beat no. 6 Crosby 4-0 in the first round but lost to no. 11 seed Darien 4-2 in the second round. Darien advanced to the semifinals Saturday with a 1-0 win over no. 3 Fairfield Prep and will face no. 7 Farmington on Tuesday in Naugutuck.
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Noah Drazen (77), Caleb Ritter (15) and Santiago Persano (23). Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridgeport Central goalie Andres Palacio with one of many saves against Hall≥ Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Andrew Swain takes a corner kick late in the second half. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridgeport Central’s defense held Hall scoreless for the entire game. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
AJ Speranza is unhappy with a call. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall students came out in force to support the team in the Class LL boys soccer quarterfinals. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridgeport Central goalie Andres Palacio makes a save. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Caleb Ritter tries to outrun Bridgeport Central’s Jonathan Gomes. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
John Punt (20) clears the ball. In background is Santiago Persano (23). Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall senior captain Connor Sandstrom (left) and Jonah Kalsner Kershen. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jake Gilden. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aj Speranza. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hall players can’t believe the season is over as time expires. Hall vs. Bridgeport Central Class LL Soccer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
[…] had self-reported that they had used an ineligible player in Saturday’s game against Hall. Bridgeport Central won the contest 1-0, but now the game will count as a forfeit and Hall has been declared the […]