ECC rivalries stretch to state level as CIAC drops pairings
It never fails. Rivals in the Eastern Connecticut Conference become rivals in the CIAC state tournament, too.
The East Lyme and Waterford high school volleyball teams, for instance, hadn’t even begun their ECC Division I championship match Friday when the state tournament pairings were released with East Lyme as the No. 1 seed in the Class L bracket and Waterford right behind at No. 2.
Ledyard (No. 1) and East Lyme (No. 3) highlight the Class L pairings in boys’ soccer, as well.
“I think it says a lot about our conference and is a compliment to the ECC,” Waterford coach Amanda (Tourjee) Kostek said. “Of course we enjoy (East Lyme’s) competition and it’s always a fun fight.
“Having such a strong local rival is good for us and prepares us for the state tournament, showing us what we need to work on to succeed. However, I won’t mind playing some other teams before we potentially get matched up again.”
Said Ledyard boys’ soccer coach Bill Glenney: “I hate playing ECC schools in the state tourney because I want to see them succeed, but if we see East Lyme again it will be in the (final), so you can sign me up for that.”
Glenney’s team was 15-1 in the regular season with its only loss to East Lyme, 6-0 on Oct. 14. Ledyard was hoping to avenge that defeat in the ECC Division I tournament final, but got knocked off by Norwich Free Academy in the semis.
East Lyme (14-1-1 in the regular season) won the ECC title over NFA on Thursday night, 4-3.
Ledyard received a bye in the first round of the Class L tournament and will open with either No. 16 Bunnell or No. 17 Ellis Tech in a second-round game Nov. 9. East Lyme meets No. 30 Windsor in the first round Monday in East Lyme.
Also among local teams, the Norwich Tech boys’ soccer team is the top seed in the upcoming Class M tournament. The Warriors, scheduled to play in the Connecticut Technical Conference tournament championship game today, were 12-1-3 in the regular season. Norwich Tech received a firstround bye and will face either No. 16 Woodland or No. 17 Stonington in the second round Nov. 9.
The Montville volleyball team (17-3) is ranked second in Class S.
In Class L volleyball, East Lyme and Waterford have first-round byes, as does Montville in Class S. East Lyme will face the winner of a match between No. 16 Masuk and No. 17 Windsor while Waterford will take on either No. 15 Branford or No. 18 Killingly.
Montville takes on the winner of an-ECC matchup between No. 15 Lyman Memorial and No. 18 Wheeler.
Meanwhile, the ECC champion Stonington field hockey team (sixth in Class S, 12-2-1) and Lyman Memorial girls’ soccer team (fifth in Class S, 12-3-1) are attempting to get back to the same place they found themselves a year ago: the state championship game.
“We have to play confident and solid defense for 60 minutes every game,” Stonington coach Jenna Tucchio said, when asked what it will take for her team to advance deep into the field hockey tournament. “Our attacking game has been improving and thriving all season, but for tournament play, our defense will really need to step up to the challenge.
“We love the tournament. We really get to lay everything out on the line and see what happens.”
Norwich Tech coach Jamie Lamatie said this team of boys’ soccer players has simply found a way to win. The Warriors challenged themselves scheduling-wise and finished 4-1-1 in games against ECC teams. Michael George leads the team with 20 goals.
Lamatie also credited Hunter Jackson, who played previously on the wing but moved to the defensive side of the ball.
“I would say the expectation was interesting,” Lamatie said. “We graduated five very good seniors, we had our first all-state player in 20 years last season. Our expectations were depending on how much the younger kids stepped up.”
Likewise, Montville volleyball coach Harold Branstrom was uncertain who would set for the Wolves coming into the season. As it turned out, athletic junior MacKenzie Payne, a former outside hitter, converted to a new position, as well.
“That was a huge factor,” Branstrom said. “This season has been a bit of a surprise. I knew I had some good young talent and a very experienced opposite in captain Zoie Farrar . ... Additionally, one of the biggest factors is the way all these girls support each other. It makes for a great vibe in the gym.”
The Montville boys’ soccer team, which won the ECC Division II title Thursday in exhilarating fashion in two rounds of penalty kicks, drew the No. 3 seed in the Class M tournament at 12-2-2.
Paul Christensen, meanwhile, the East Lyme boys’ soccer coach who captured one tournament title this week — as well as his 400th career victory — said he wouldn’t mind playing Ledyard for yet another title in approximately two weeks’ time in what is a competitive Class L bracket (the top 10 teams have two losses or fewer).
“We wouldn’t face each other until the finals if we both get there,” Christensen said of Ledyard. “If that happens, that would be a great statement for the ECC as we often get overlooked as a league on the state level. And it would be great for the area.”