Crosstown West Hartford rivals met for the final game of the regular season on Tuesday afternoon.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Paul Palmer

The Conard soccer team had scored just 16 goals in its first 15 games – having been shutout eight times – entering Tuesday’s regular season finale against Hall. Despite that scoring drought, the Red Wolves still had a chance at making the post season with a win.

They opened the game at Hall by doing something they had seldom done – scoring the opening goal and doing in in just 1:02 of playing time. Brooklynn Knowles launched a corner kick that drifted towards the back post, and Paige Sweeney went up and nodded it in for the 1-0 lead.

The Red Wolves continued to apply the pressure, but the Titans, who have not had trouble scoring this season, got their offense in gear and scored the game’s next six goals for the 6-1 win.

“We played a great early game,” said  Conard head coach PJ Louis. “We got up one goal and had a ton of energy.”

Hall tried to quickly counter the goal, and saw Red Wolves’ goalie Evelyn Black punch out a dangerous corner, and then make a big save on Leah Berey within the opening eight minutes to hold the lead. The Titans were stuck in a predictable offensive attack that Conard was ready for. The defense would start the transition by getting the ball to a midfielder. That player usually had her back to the goal and had to look for a pass as there was no room to turn. The pass would be a through ball, resulting in a foot race. The play was just not working for Hall.

It took the host team 26 and a half minutes to even things up on a goal by Aliza Schleif. A Hall shot on goal was blocked by a Conard defender, but Black had moved to where the ball was heading. The deflection fell to Schleif who tucked it into the empty side of the net.

Less than six minutes later it was Hall taking a lead they would never relinquish as Maya Reilly made a beautiful run down the right side, cut into the back of the box, and launched a ball towards a crowd in front of the goal. Berey was there for Hall and deflected it into the goal for the 2-1 lead.

Eighty seconds later the Titans struck again, this time using a corner kick. Alex Ackerman – who laid the ball into the right spot all game from the corners – lofted a ball to the near post where Paige Keena got a foot to it. Black managed to get a piece of the ball, but it rolled across the line for the 3-1 lead for Hall.

“That third goal was just one we could not come back from,” said Louis.

It was a strong recovery from a Hall side that was on their heels more often than not for the opening 20 minutes. “The way we responded to their early goal, coming together, saying we’re gonna figure this out, made me very proud,” said Hall coach Scott Ferguson.

The second half started with a focused Titan team that was hungry for goals. Just 5:06 into the half, it was Ackerman setting up Kyra Baun for the try, but Black was up to the task, pushing the shot wide. Hall took the ensuing corner kick and it was the Ackerman-Baun combination working together again as the Ackerman corner was knocked home by Baun.

The next two goals saw Hall’s Katie Hurlock net a pair from an angle and from distance. The first came just under 10 minutes in when the senior found herself with space about 20 yards out and to the right side. She sent a low shot towards the back post that got under a diving Black and found the net.

Ten minutes later it would be Hurlock again this time with an assist from Baun. She found Hurlock open again on the right side and this time she sent the ball towards the far side of the net in the air. Goalie Ali Refici – who had replaced Black –  could only watch it sail past and into the net for the 6-1 lead.

“Katie is one of those ‘if you believe in yourself, you can do anything’ people,” said Ferguson. “The best part was watching all of her teammates running to her as she came off the field later in the game. That is what this team is all about.”

Hall was so dominant in the final 40 minutes that Conard did not get a shot on goal until there was less than two minutes to play.

The Red Wolves will not be going to the post season, finishing at 5-9-2. “Our philosophy was to get better each day, and we did that,” Louis said of his team. “We lost to Bristol 4-0 in our opener and tied them at 0-0 last week. I am proud of these kids and we are going to build on our success.”

Hall will not play in the CCC tournament but will make the state tournament after finishing at 7-6-3. “This was some of the best soccer we played all season,” Ferguson said. “They played with confidence.”

In addition to her goal scored, Berey was a dominant force in the midfield all game long. She played strong defense and was a lynchpin in the transition game. “She is such a selfless player for us in midfield.” Ferguson said, adding that she is a natural forward and will play forward in college, but shifted to midfield to help her team this season.

As for what comes next, Ferguson likes the team he is taking into states. “We know now that we can play with anybody but we have to execute every day and they know it. We really came together as a team today.”

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