OLD SAYBROOK >> The Haddam-Killingworth and Old Saybrook boys soccer teams renewed acquaintances on Thursday. The Cougars dropped all three previous meetings between the clubs this season, including a loss in the Shoreline Conference semifinals a week ago in which Old Saybrook scored two goals in the game’s first minute.
So a fast start was perhaps the only chance H-K had to upset the undefeated and top-seeded Rams.
Old Saybrook, however, struck early again, netting two goals in the opening three minutes, and cruised to a 3-0 victory in the second round of the Class S tournament.
“It seems like they always get one early on us,” Haddam-Killingworth coach Denis Recchia said. “It’s tough. Unfortunately, we played them four times and we just couldn’t really get on top.”
Old Saybrook senior forward Ashton Reina stunned the Cougars with a goal off an incredible shot from 30 yards out in the second minute. A little over a minute later, junior midfielder Justin Phillips scored on a header off an Anthny Karg corner kick and the Rams had a 2-0 advantage.
“Reina’s goal was a great shot,” Recchia said. “Right away that sets the tone in a real negative way for us.”
Cougars junior Ben McLaughlin had a pair of scoring chances later in the half, including one bid from in close that forced Rams junior goalkeeper Jonah Nucci (six saves) to make a sprawling save.
Less than a minute into the second half, Rams senior Aiden Reid knocked the ball into an open net after a throw-in to the far post and the Rams had a 3-0 cushion.
“It’s hard to recover from 2-0 but it’s also hard on our end to maintain focus,” said Old Saybrook coach Sam Barnes, whose club had a few days off after winning their first Shoreline title since 1964 last Friday. “We had to do some sub management and make sure we didn’t lose our momentum. It’s difficult sometimes because if they score a goal it’s 2-1 and it’s a whole different game.”
Old Saybrook outshot H-K, 20-11.
“Old Saybrook’s a really good team,” Recchia said. “We played hard. It was a good state playoff game. All the credit to Saybrook. They’re great. Hopefully, they’ll go all the way.”
Junior keeper Jack Spooner stopped five shots for No. 17 H-K (9-8-1), which was coming off a 6-0 win over Aerospace in the first round.
“It was a good year for us,” Recchia said. “We’re returning a lot of people. We made it to the Shoreline semifinals and we got a win in the state tournament so hopefully next year we can build on that and keep going.”
No. 1 Old Saybrook (16-0-2) hosts No. 8 Somers (13-5-0) in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
“This is a quality club,” Barnes said. “We’re undefeated and they should be proud of themselves. They’re a good group of kids. They want to win and they’re working well together.”
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