Furious NFA rally falls short in ECC boys soccer final
Sometimes you can learn more about a team’s character and heart in a defeat than a victory.
Trailing talented, senior-laden East Lyme 4-0 early in the second half in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I championship game, Norwich Free Academy could have packed up their bags on a cold night and waited for the state tourney pairings to come out the next day.
Instead, the Wildcats fought. And ultimately, ran out of time.
NFA senior Louis Hawkins capped a furious three-goal rally with a terrific move up front, holding off a Vikings defender and slipping a shot inside the right goal post. Hawkins’ goal, however, came with 38 seconds remaining.
“We fought to the end but it wasn’t enough,” said Hawkins.
Top-seeded East Lyme held off the Wildcats, 4-3, Thursday night at Ledyard. It was the Vikings second straight ECC Division I tournament title and 400th career win for head coach Paul Christensen.
East Lyme (16-1-1), which is ranked No. 8 in the CT High School Class LL Boys Soccer Coaches Poll, edged Waterford, 1-0, in the semifinals. Vikings senior back Tristan Sequin was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
At one point this season, the Vikings were 13-0, which included a win over NFA, and had outscored their opponents, 51-2.
“I have to congratulate East Lyme,” NFA head coach Rob Briones said. “Paul did a great job. They’re strong, tall, and fast with 17 seniors.”
Bad start
The Vikings, which defeated NFA in the tournament semifinals a year ago, stunned the Wildcats on goals from Luke Salan and Brendan Osso in the opening five minutes.
“We knew they were dangerous on throw-ins and in a final when you give up a goal within two minutes that makes a huge difference,” Briones said.
Finian Gates added a goal late in the first half to give East Lyme a 3-0 lead at intermission.
Robert Stoddard then made it 4-0 with another goal just one minute and 51 seconds into the second half.
“Unfortunately, you come out with a plan and a strategy and then you have to throw everything out,” Briones said. “What we learned from it tonight is not to make mistakes early in the game.”
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The comeback
The Wildcats (11-7-1) took their cue from fiery sophomore goalkeeper Kolton Hawkins, who made a number of big saves in the second half, and applied more pressure while winning more 50/50 balls.
Wildcats senior Jhon Lopez Choc got NFA on the board with a terrific left-footed shot just outside the keeper box at the 53rd minute.
NFA continued to rally, pulling within 4-2 when Logan Jenkins one-timed a throw-in from Louis Hawkins.
But Hawkins’ goal to make it 4-3 came in the final minute and the Wildcats weren’t able to get the Hail Mary equalizer.
“I give my boys a lot of credit,” Briones said. “They fought until the end and got three goals and didn't give up. That says a lot.”
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Reaching the final
NFA knocked off two teams that defeated them during the regular season to reach the finals.
Hawkins, the Wildcats leading scorer, netted two goals, while Erik Portillo had one goal in a 3-1 victory over Windham in the quarterfinals. The Whippets edged NFA 1-0 earlier this season.
NFA met Ledyard in the semifinal round. The Colonels had already topped the Wildcats, 6-0 and 4-0, this season. But Hawkins had a goal and an assist and Jenkins added a goal as NFA gained a measure of revenge with a surprising 2-0 victory.
Avenging a loss to East Lyme earlier this year proved to be too formidable a task for NFA, especially after facing a four-goal deficit.
“It’s a tough loss but East Lyme is a good team and putting up a fight against them will prepare us well for the state tournament,” Louis Hawkins said.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich Free Academy falls short against East Lyme in ECC tourney final
