Hall boys soccer hosted Farmington on Friday night in West Hartford.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Maddie Geraghty. Photos by Craig Rosenberg and Maddie Geraghty 

Last time they played, Hall took a hard loss, 5-1, against Farmington, but this time the results were very different.

Coming into Friday’s rematch Hall had a record of 6-1-2, while Farmington was still undefeated at 7-0-2.

Last time these two teams battled, Hall was missing some key players due to injury and other reasons, and wasn’t able to play at their highest level. As the season has progressed, the chemistry on the team has increased and is evident in this game. With injured players healed and back on the field, Hall was out looking for revenge. The stands were packed with the most fans seen this season and both teams came out spirited, knowing they needed to perform.  

The first half began with both teams battling for possession, and fans could tell this game was evenly matched. Hall’s defensive line was strong and consistent as always.

Ryan Rogorzenski (2), Zachary Debin (13), captains Benjamin Goldstein (5) and Lincoln Bush (4) held steady in the back. They continually put up headers to keep the ball off of their end of the field. However, Farmington managed to get off some powerful shots from outside the box but were unable to place them into the back of the net. Both teams put each other in tight positions; but, for Hall, Grady Doyle (15) did a great job of this, regaining possession by bringing heavy pressure on the defense and midfield.

At the end of the first half Farmington had a corner kick which bobbled around in the box and eventually Farmington forward Keane Murphy (13) found the net and the half ended with Farmington up 1-0.

The second half started out even more fast-paced than the first. Bush, Rogorzenski, and Eric Samuels (11) made steady combinations out of the back. In the beginning of this half, with 30:22 left on the clock, captain Liam Deloreto (9) earned a penalty kick. He capitalized on the opportunity to catch up with Farmington’s lead, and even out the score 1-1.

Both teams were scraping for a goal; shots from each time end up in the goalies’ hands. Samuels worked to get the ball out of the middle and up the field, setting up some good shots but the tie remained.

A last-minute volley from Farmington had fans gasping, but missed to the right. With just seconds remaining, a through ball reached Deloreto in the corner. He broke past his defender and had a low shot that rolled just wide of the left post – leaving the score tied at the final whistle. 

Hall showed growth in this game, and while they didn’t leave the field with a win on their record, they won in other aspects. They demonstrated change and a stronger connection between players than ever before. The grit of this team is growing with each match and their hunger for success is undeniable.

The final score showcases that Hall boys soccer is prepared for their next challenges. Hall will carry this tie forward with intention and use it as data to refine their gameplay and prove why they deserve more wins under their belt.

Hall, now ranked 12th in Class LL, will travel to Avon (6-2-2) on Monday before hosting Bristol Central (4-6-0) on Wednesday.

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