Shelton hands Foran first loss

MILFORD — Shelton got steadier as its game with Foran went on. Four minutes into the second half, Alessio Sciortino finished off a quick passing sequence to take a lead and the Gaels tacked on another to win a 2-0 decision at the Vito DeVito Sports Complex.

“It was a good day for the soccer boys, we were moving the ball around,” Sciortino said. “I got to say it all started with the defense. All the attackers were able to spread out and play the ball through.”

Jason Lorent passed to Nolan Sevillano, who slid the ball to Sciortino, who pushed it into an open net for the opening salvo between teams off to decidedly different starts to the season. Shelton broke a 2-game slide and ended Foran’s win streak at 2.

Sevillano added on when his shot from the right of Foran All-State keeper Luca Marinelli tucked inside the far post with 18:55 remaining.

Shelton coach Isaac Montalvo was pleased that a change in strategy worked.

“We changed formation and looked like it worked,” he said. “We have great players and they work hard. But you don’t always have to have the best players, you need to build a team. Today, they felt comfortable together and they were linking.”

Foran coach Rick DiStefano thought his team was off kilter.

“We got away from the things we do well,” he said. “I think all over the field today we gave away the ball too much. Defensively, we made mistakes that are uncharacteristic for us. Shelton is a good team, but we didn’t do ourselves justice today. Two communication mistakes (led to goals), I don’t think we’ve made them in 5 years. Most of the game was played in the middle of the field and they beat us there today. It is football, you have games like that.”

Sciortino was happy to be back competing.

“It feels trippy because we haven’t played in so long,” the sophomore attacker said. “With all this (virus) going we had been in denial that we would get to play. The first two games we were getting used to each other. Today, we got to know the ball, know what everyone was going to do.”

Shelton was on the road for the first time, having lost a 2-1 decision to Amity and 1-0 to Law.

Foran was home after posting 1-0 wins over Law and Amity.

Winning early in an abbreviated season has added importance.

“The first game against every opponent counts towards seeding (for the postseason),” said DiStefano, who learned of the formula prior to the game. “If we are 5-2 to begin (the) season against our group those are the games that count; and end up 6-5, those first games count toward seedings. Its weird, but we are playing the teams they send our way.”

Foran and Shelton are joined in their group by Amity, Law, West Haven, Platt Tech and Notre Dame of West Haven. Shelton has a solo outside match with Cheshire. Foran’s outside game is against Career/ Hillhouse.

Montalvo repeated what he had said before the season.

“I tell the kids, every time you play no matter who the other side, play to enjoy,” Montalvo said. “I tell them before every game to have fun. Don’t worry about what is going to be tomorrow or who is going to be next. Let’s go game by game. Enjoy, because you don’t know even with this virus. We are not going to worry about it. We are going to give 100 percent every game and have fun.” 02—2 00—0 S:Alessio Sciortino (Nolan Sevillano), 43:58; Nolan Sevillano 62:05; F5; S- 13; F: Luca Marinelli 8 saves; S: Reino Sawan 1 save, Alessandro Mallozzi 2 saves.