Old Lyme edges out H-K in Shoreline showdown

OLD LYME — Amid the restrictions and precautions in place for schools to go forward with a fall sports season, Old Lyme girls soccer coach Paul Gleason sees an appreciable freedom in being able to play.

“I told the team at the beginning of the season that this is the best of seasons,” he said through an N95 mask on Monday. “There are no awards at the end of the season. No All-State selections, nothing. (This season) is about just playing to enjoy this game and enjoy how wonderful it could be. My kids have embraced that.”

“I’m having a wonderful time other than being terrified of catching Covid,” Gleason added.

On the field, Old Lyme remains the most feared team in the Shoreline Conference. The Wildcats (6-0-1) scored twice before the midway point of the first half and the two goals were enough to send Haddam-Killingworth to its first defeat, 2-1 at Gardner Field.

“The kids are playing really, really hard and I’m enjoying watching them,” Gleason said. “I’m enjoying watching my seniors play especially.”

Old Lyme was the biggest challenge to date for H-K (5-0-1). That the Cougars had to go forward without senior forward Yumi Imai (excused absence), their leading scorer, made it all the more difficult. Coach Mike Shea had six underclassmen in the starting lineup.

“It was a learning process with Yumi being out and adjusting,” Shea said. “We do have some young players out there right now. They are learning their position more and seeing the field a little bit better. Obviously it would have been nice to con

Paul Augeri / For Hearst Connecticut Media Old Lyme keeper Sam Gray comes up with a first-half save, one of six on the day in the Wildcats’ 2-1 win over H-K.