The Hall boys soccer team hosted Brien McMahon on Monday afternoon in West Hartford in a second round Class LL game.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote

The Hall boys’ soccer team continues its pursuit of a state title after a commanding 4-1 victory over Brien McMahon (Norwalk) on Monday afternoon at home in West Hartford. With the win, No. 9 seed Hall moves on to the quarterfinals, where they will face No. 1 Naugatuck on Thursday afternoon.

Coming off a defensive battle in their previous matchup, Hall’s offense came alive in this one, striking for four goals – one in the first half and three in the second. The team looked confident and composed, controlling the pace of play and capitalizing on key opportunities throughout the game.

The first breakthrough came with 16:32 left in the first half when Ryan Rogorzenski connected with Zachary Debin, who buried a shot to give Hall a 1-0 lead. Debin, a consistent offensive threat all season, showed great awareness and precision, finishing off a well-placed pass that sent the Titans bench into celebration.

Brien McMahon responded just before halftime. With 3:20 left in the half, Michael Fosina found the back of the net with an unassisted goal, catching Hall off guard and evening the score at 1-1. Despite the late equalizer, the Titans regrouped at halftime, refocusing their energy on maintaining possession and pushing the attack.

Hall’s adjustments paid off almost immediately in the second half. With 32:48 left in the game, Christian Almeida took a well-timed pass from Grady Doyle and fired it home to regain the lead at 2-1. The goal reignited Hall’s momentum, and from that point forward, the Titans never looked back.

Just minutes later, Hall struck again – this time in an unexpected way. With 27:15 remaining, a long throw-in from Debin caused chaos in front of the Brien McMahon goal. As players scrambled to clear it, the ball deflected off a McMahon defender and into the net for an own goal, putting Hall ahead 3-1. Christmas came early for the Hall Titans and it was a fortunate bounce that reflected Hall’s constant pressure and sharp execution on set pieces.

The Titans added one final insurance goal with 11:51 left in the match when Sebastian Acker Candela scored unassisted to make it 4-1. His quick decision and composure on the ball sealed the victory and sent Hall comfortably into the next round.

While the offense stole the spotlight, the defense remained steady and composed. Goalkeeper Rodrigo Ballesteros once again showcased his consistency and poise, recording multiple diving saves and cutting off several dangerous opportunities. His performance helped keep Brien McMahon from mounting any serious comeback attempt. Defender Jeremi Palma Mena also came up big with a key defensive breakup that halted a potential scoring chance late in the game.

With their offense clicking and defense holding strong, Hall appears to be peaking at the perfect time. The Titans will look to carry this momentum into the quarterfinals as they continue their run for the state championship.

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