BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

5 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lucas Almeida, Hall, Sr., F: Almeida has been lighting up scoreboards in the CCC and is ready to help lead Hall as it goes for another Class LL title after winning the top division in 2019. Almeida can create his own chances but also works very well in Hall’s system with All-State caliber players at nearly every position.

Isaac Dumeny, Greenwich, Sr, F: Dumeny missed a large chunk of the season due to injury but came back at the very end of the regular season and has proven to be a sparkplug for the Cardinals. The explosive striker has the speed to get by anyone in the state and can finish with the best of them. He tallied a hat trick in Greenwich’s FCIAC semifinal win over Ridgefield.

Lex Edwards, Law, Sr., M: The All-State-worthy Edwards leads one of the best teams Law has ever put on the field from his attacking midfield position. Finishing 14-1-1 and entering the Class M tournament as the No. 4 seed, Law Is stacked with seniors around Edwards, but he is the straw that stirs the drink.

Justin Hess, Guilford, Jr., GK: A hot goalkeeper can make or break teams with most state tournament games played close to the vest. Hess has shown to be one of the best in the state all season. He had seven clean sheets, allowed just one goal in seven others and two goals only once. Good luck, Class L strikers.

Sam Montalto, Stonington, Sr., F: The senior striker leads a talented Stonington team looking for another Class M title after winning it all in 2019. Montalto owns the school record for goals scored. Will Sawin and Drew Johnson are also dangerous scoring threats, so doubleteaming Montalto becomes difficult.

5 STORYLINES

Five fingers on a Hand: With no state tournament last season, Hand was denied the chance to win a fifth straight CIAC Class L championship. Or should we say, delayed in seeking a fifth title in a row. The Tigers are the No. 4 seed in Class L and would love nothing more than getting a ring for the thumb. Looking at the bracket, the road to the semifinals may have to go through a very tough No. 12 Wethersfield team out of the CCC in the quarterfinals.

Class M stacked: When ECC champions Stonington and SWC champs Weston can meet in the quarterfinals, you know you have a deep field of contenders. It is so deep that Woodland went 13-0-3 and could only get a No. 5 seed out of it. No. 1 Nonnewaug has not lost this year and there are five teams in the field with just one loss. Among them are SWC runners-up in No. 7 Barlow; perennial contender No. 2 Suffield, which has won Class M three times since 2012; and No. 4 Law, which plays mainly Class L and LL schools in the SCC. But wait, there’s more. No. 12 Ellington was the 2019 Class M runner- up; No. 8 Ledyard was second in the ECC. That’s not even mentioning No. 12 Ellington, which finished second in the class in 2018 and ’19 and No. 10 Morgan which played in two Class S state finals, winning once over the last four years.

Hall hopes: Hall rolled to the 2019 Class LL title without much resistance. Last season, most of that team was back, but the lack of a state tournament prevented back-to-back titles. While many of the players from the championship team have graduated, a few remain and the new players have fit right in, keeping Hall at the top of the Class LL standings all year. Coming in as the No. 2 seed, Hall could see No. 10 Warde out of the FCIAC or CCC rival No. 7 Farmington in the quarterfinals.

FCIAC still waiting: With no teams winning a state title since 2013, the FCIAC is officially in a state title drought. In fact, when Wilton (Class L ) and Greenwich (Class LL) reached championship games in 2019, it marked the first finalists for the conference since Darien in 2015. This year the league will again find it difficult to advance without having to play another FCIAC opponent. In the first round of Class LL, Westhill plays Warde and Norwalk plays Trumbull. Greenwich, which has a bye, could face McMahon and could Darien play Ridgefield in the second round.

Dillon Stadium: Finally, state soccer fans can see all the state final games in one location. And the players have a destination to shoot for along with a title. The professional home stadium of Hartford Athletic will become a beacon for all CIAC soccer players, with its pristine pitch and large stands.

CLASS LL

2019 champion: Hall Favorites: No. 1 Xavier; No. 2 Hall

Dark horses: No. 10 Warde; No. 7 Farmington; No. 13 Cheshire

CLASS L

2019 champion: Hand Favorites: No. 3 Middletown; No. 4 Hand; No. 2 Watertown

Dark horses: No. 12 Wethersfield; No. 10 Bethel; No. 17 RHAM

CLASS M

2019 champion:

Favorites: No. 2 Suffield; No. 3 Stonington; No. 6 West- on

Dark horses: No. 7 Barlow; No. 12 Ellington; No. 19 Plainville; No. 8 Ledyard

CLASS S 2019 champion:

Stonington

Old Saybrook

Favorites: No. 1 Holy Cross; No. 2 Old Saybrook

Dark horses: No. 8 Canton; No. 12 Litchfield; No. 13 Montville; No. 14 Shepaug Valley