Guilford head coach Scott McMahon talks to the Indians at halftime after a scoreless first half, Tuesday, October 4, 2016, against rival Daniel Hand at Strong Field at the Surf Club in Madison. Guilford defeated Hand, 1-0. Assistant coach Fred Franzoni in the background. (Catherine Avalone/New Haven Register)
Guilford girls soccer coach Scott McMahon was in favor of realigning the Southern Connecticut Conference, even though he knew it wouldn’t affect the Indians much.
Sure, the Indians would no longer be division rivals with Hand, their chief rival, but would still play the Tigers twice a season because part of the realignment was to keep the league’s best rivalries.. Also, based on recent success, Guilford was the No. 1 ranked team in the conference.
“We still play Hand, Amity still play Shelton,” McMahon said. “It doesn’t seem a whole lot different overall. We have five teams in our division now. It was always four.”
Once the SCC decided to keep the same names of the divisions in September, Guilford ended up back in the Hammonasset. And much like years past, the Indians are the team to beat.
Foran is also back in the Hammonasset, joined by Branford, West Haven and Mercy.
“We’ve played Branford quite a bit and we’ve played Mercy like seven years in a row,” McMahon said. “Our schedule is not a whole lot different. We have the toughest schedule in the league.”
Guilford avenge one of its two losses this season to Shelton Friday night, cruising 4-1. Defense has been key against some of the top scorers in the league.
McMahon said the Indians held Lauralton Hall high-scoring Caroline Monahan to one shot in a 3-0 win on Sept. 30. The defensive effort was similar against West Haven’s Gabriella Prisco last month.
A pair of strong center-midfielders, Chloe Shaw and Kayley McLaughlin, have helped the Indians’ offense led by Andrea Basilicato (10 goals). Yes, Guilford has what it takes to win its third SCC tournament title in the last four years.
“We’re very balanced. Every position pretty much has the best player available in that position,” McMahon said. “There’s no one out of position. This is the first time since our championship year (2013) where I feel we are playing our game and making other teams worry about us. We don’t change what we do against the team we are playing. Offensively, our attack is strong enough to give any defense trouble.”
Three weeks remain in the regular season before the postseason begins.
“What I think about is getting our team to a level where it does not matter where we play,” McMahon said. “State championship teams are able to figure it out and play well in any situation.”
The Indians will have its Cancer Awareness Night this Friday at home against Foran. There will be posters displayed honoring both survivors and non-survivors, T-shirts and baked goods for sale and the players wearing pink socks, according to McMahon. All proceeds go to benefit the dreaded disease. Game time is 7 p.m. at Bittner Park.
Streak intact
The Glastonbury girls tied the state record of 49 consecutive victories Friday by defeating Conard 8-0. The Tomahawks go for No. 50 and the record all to themselves next Thursday against Avon at home. Game time for this Central Connecticut Conference contest is 3:45 p.m.
The Tomahawks currently share the record with Trumbull, which set the mark in 1999. Glastonbury is ranked fourth in the nation and is the two-time defending Class LL state champion.
Vaz recuperating
Longtime Platt Tech boys soccer coach Acacio Vaz was home recuperating last week after getting into a car accident on Monday morning in Fairfield on his way to work, according to acting head coach Mike Raccio.
“He’s doing much better,” said Raccio, who spoke to him each day last week. “He’s given me the (starting) lineup (for each game of the three games).”
Raccio, who has coached with Vaz every year since the latter took over the program in 1994, said Vaz, a Shelton resident, suffered a concussion and would be re-evaluated today/Monday to see when he can return to coaching.
Platt Tech is 5-6 overall. Senior Connor Moore leads the team with 13 goals and three assists.
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