Cromwell’s Eliza Weston looks to control the ball while Old Lyme defender Keelin Hurtt moves in Monday night at Cromwell High School. Jimmy Zanor – The Middletown Pressi
CROMWELL >> Cromwell girls soccer coach Marcelo Caetano didn’t set any goals for his sophomore-laden team this season.
“Our approach since day one is …. one game at a time,” Caetano said. “And it’s working. Wherever it takes us is great.”
On Monday night, it took the Panthers into a showdown with defending Shoreline Conference champion Lyme-Old Lyme with both teams entering the contest unbeaten in league play.
The Wildcats got a terrific tie-breaking goal from sophomore Mya Johnson early in the second half and a pair of late goals from senior Jenna Peduzzi to hand Cromwell its first loss of the season, 4-1, at Cromwell High School.
“We’re young and we’re going to use this as a learning experience,” Caetano said. “We’re having a good season.”
Indeed.
The Panthers (8-1-1) only blemish was a tie at Old Saybrook two weeks ago.
“Everything’s clicking,” Caetano added. “Our sophomore group is very strong. Our senior captains ( Stephanie Sousa, Julia Liseo and Talia Neves) have been great. Cara Jordan has been a game-changer for us. Jenna Serrantino has scored a lot of goals. And our sophomore backs, Erika Person and Olivia Pendl, have been great with Neves being out with an injury.”
Cromwell gave the Wildcats fits through the first 30 minutes.
Cromwell struck early when sophomore Eliza Weston knocked in a shot at the goal-line that had ricocheted off the crossbar. Old Lyme tied it five minutes later when Peduzzi settled a throw-in from Keelin Hurt and lifted a shot over the head of Panthers sophomore keeper Seraphina McKiernan to make it 1-1.
Serrantino nearly got the lead back with a great scoring bid up front but Old Lyme junior keeper Katherine Pettersen made a sensational diving save.
“Marcelo has done a great job with this team,” Old Lyme coach Paul Gleason said. “Last year they weren’t even close to the skill level they have this year. I take my hat off to them. It was a great game.”
Johnson notched the game-winner with a perfectly placed ball from 30 yards out into the upper corner in the 46th minute. Peduzzi then used her speed to net a pair of late goals while earning the hat trick.
“It was a tale of two halves,” Caetano said. “When you play a team like Old Lyme they’re very disciplined and they pass the ball very well.”
The Wildcats (12-1-2), whose only loss was against East Lyme in the second game of the season, extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games. Old Lyme, which has played a tough non-league schedule this season, was coming off a win on Saturday against unbeaten Woodstock Academy.
“Cromwell seemed to get a little tired in the second half,” Gleason said. “We’ve played such a rigid schedule against a lot of L and M teams. And when you get down to an S schedule it makes a difference.”
The game was a possible SLC tournament preview.
“We hope to see them again,” Caetano said. “They’re one of the better teams in the state in my opinion. We’ll bounce back.”
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