Notre Dame falls to Sacred Heart in semis

NAUGATUCK — The Sacred Heart Academy girls soccer team has had plenty to celebrate this season.

The Sharks were the only unbeaten in the Southern Connecticut Conference during the regular season. They reached the league tournament semifinals, then the Class M state tournament semifinals. And now, Sacred Heart Academy will be playing for a state championship this weekend.

Juliana Garcia’s first-half goal was all the No. 3 seed Sharks needed to advance to the Class M championship game, its first overall, beating No. 10 Notre Dame-Fairfield 1-0 Tuesday night at Naugatuck High,

“I love these girls. They’re so passionate,” Garcia said. “They do everything to win and that’s what we do, we win by working hard and that’s how we’re going to win finals, too.”

The Sharks (17-1-3) spent time celebrating this first finals berth following the game. There will be time to prepare for the last game of the season, which will take place either Saturday or Sunday at Dillon Stadium in Hartford.

“You’ve got to enjoy every moment,” Sacred Heart Academy first-year coach Everson Maciel said. “They need to celebrate. That’s a part of high school soccer. This is a very tight group.”

SHA will now take on No. 4 seed Mercy in an all-SCC championship game this weekend. Like Sacred Heart Academy, this will be Mercy’s first appearance in a state final.

Mercy beat the Sharks 2-1 in the SCC tournament semifinals, the only time the two teams squared off this season.

“Playing them in a final for our group will be extra motivation as a team,” Maciel said. “It was an even game until the end.”

Garcia broke the scoreless tie with 7:55 left in the first half. She was able to score past Notre Dame goalkeeper Veronica Rrapi, who was going to her left, then slipped as she tried to double back for the save.

“She slipped and I shot it in with my left foot,” said Garcia, who played club soccer at Oakwood Academy her first two seasons.

The Lancers (14-3-4) had a handful of chances to get the tying goal, but couldn’t convert. The Sharks’ defenders were able to keep Zoey Wood, who scored 30 goals this season, under wraps.

“That was the best team we played all year,” Notre Dame coach Wayne Mones said about Sacred Heart Academy. “They have more people coming at you who are quality players. They have three or four Division I players. They are a quality team and he (Maciel) has trained them well.”

QUOTABLE

“There have been times in the past where we’ve lost and I felt we just didn’t play well. Today. I thought we played very very well, we fought hard and created chances (to score).” — Notre Dame coach Wayne Mones

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Juliana Garcia, Sacred Heart Academy: Scored the game’s only goal with 7:55 left in the first half.

SACRED HEART ACAD. 1, NOTRE DAME 0

(at Naugatuck)

SACRED HEART .......................... 1 0 — 1 NOTRE DAME .............................. 0 0 — 0 Goals: SHA—Juliana Garcia.

Saves: SHA—Ava King 5; ND—Veronica Rrapi 3.