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11/07/2014 11:00 PMThe Branford boys’ soccer squad won all three of its games in the Class L State Tournament this past week to advance to the semifinal round for the second time in the past four seasons. The Hornets won at Notre Dame-West Haven 3-1, prevailed at University/Prince Tech by that same score, and then continued their consistency by earning yet another 3-1 victory at East Lyme on Nov. 8.
Paul Hunter’s squad will play No. 21 seed Barlow (9-4-6) in the semis at Falcon Field in Wethersfield at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. If the Hornets (12-6-2) win that game, they will face the winner of South Windsor and Avon for the Class L crown on Saturday, Nov. 15.
“The kids’ drive, determination, and overall effort was absolutely outstanding. They came out ready to go and controlled a good portion of the first 20 to 25 minutes of the game,” said Coach Hunter after the quarterfinal triumph against East Lyme. “The kids have stepped up to the plate and for them to get through three rounds of the state tournament is a real credit to their hard work and desire to win.”
The No. 17 seed Hornets began their pilgrimage through states with a game at 16th-seed and fellow SCC school Notre Dame-West Haven in first round action on Nov. 3. The first tally was an own goal by Notre Dame that gave Branford a 1-0 lead about 20 minutes in. The play started when Aaron Radulski flicked the ball to just inside the 20-yard line, where fellow senior forward Max Condon, a captain, converged with the Green Knights’ goalie and a defender with the latter knocking it into the net. Thirteen minutes later, a similar scenario occurred that saw senior defender Gobari Idamkue play a long, diagonal ball over the top, after which Notre Dame’s keeper came out to the 18 to retrieve it, only to see Condon put it past him for a 2-0 Hornets’ advantage.
Then on a corner kick 14 minutes into the second half, Condon sent the ball to Idamkue, who headed it home to make it 3-0. Notre Dame then scored its lone goal with 18 minutes left. Previously while down 2-0, Notre Dame (9-6-3) had a goal disallowed when one of its players scored while Hornets’ senior keeper Billy Bustos had his hand on the ball—a violation of the rules.
“Scoring two goals before the first half was over certainly gave us a foot up and then we told the boys at halftime that the next goal was very important because 2-1 is a dogfight, but 3-0 is a little bit easier,” Hunter said. “We gave up a soft goal, but the defense held Notre Dame at bay.”
On Nov. 5, Branford ventured to the University of Hartford to face top-seeded University/Prince Tech, which came into the game at 15-0. Senior captain midfielder Joe Roca scored from Condon 32 minutes in and the Hornets were up 1-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Radulski scored off a rebound of a Condon shot in the 63rd minute and then junior midfielder Dylan DeMaio buried a Condon rebound for a 3-0 lead 10 minutes later. The opposition netted its lone score about a minute after that.
“Going into the game, we didn’t know what to expect, but they had a quality team with two really good kids up front,” said Hunter. “I didn’t think our game was up to the standards I had hoped for, but the boys persevered and we capitalized on three opportunities.”
The Hornets then played at No. 9 seed East Lyme—which had just one loss—two days later and came home with a 3-1 victory. Branford struck first in the 16th minute when Condon took a pass from Roca at the 18 and slotted it on the ground and into the far-right corner for a 1-0 lead. Then in the 29th minute, senior captain forward Jack Pottenger scored on freshman Ethan Boileau’s assist to make it 2-0. Pottenger took the shot from about 30 to 35 yards out and placed it in the upper 90 to the right of East Lyme’s goalie. East Lyme (14-2-3) scored four minutes later and was down 2-1 at the break.
Branford then netted a key insurance goal in the 63rd minute when Pottenger put another in the upper 90 from about 30 yards away on an assist from Roca, who had intercepted a pass.
Coach Hunter credited the play of Radulski for applying constant pressure both offensively and defensively, along with that of sophomore Nick Cordero, who was the Hornets’ goalie in the game.
“Nick had a great game,” said Hunter. “He came up with some big saves and punched out some balls on corners. He did a fabulous job.”