Raiders rally to thwart Wilby

TORRINGTON — After a standout game at perennial NVL leader Naugatuck on Tuesday — a 3-2 loss — Friday night’s matchup with 0-5 Wilby was a perfect trap game for Torrington.

The Red Raiders came out with a 2-1 win, but only after finding their rhythm 30 minutes into the game.

Twenty minutes before that, Wilby senior Leo DaGraca carried the ball up the middle, chipping a goal over the head of advancing Torrington keeper Kevin Hidrovo for a 1-0 lead.

From there, the Wildcats played Torrington (3-3) dead even until the last 10 minutes of the half.

“We didn’t know (DaGraca) was so fast and skilled,” said Torrington midfielder Xavier Rodas.

“They’re better than 0-5,” said Raiders coach Mike Fritch. “For us, it’s all about playing to our potential.”

Thirty minutes into the game, the Raiders did that.

At Naugatuck, the greyhound pace forced Torrington to play much faster than usual. The hangover from that game had the Raiders rushing their touches before receivers were in place for the first 30 minutes.

“We were playing really quickly,” said midfielder Ben Sisic.

Eight minutes from the half, the Raiders perfected

their timing. A gorgeous three-touch play had Rodas standing at the Wilby doorstep at the end of the chain, only to boom his shot off the Wildcats crossbar.

A minute later, he made up for it on a perfect cross from Sisic to Rodas on the left side, lasering his shot for a 1-1 tie.

In the second half, red zone enthusiasm prevented a more decisive Torrington win on the scoreboard. Three Raiders shots went over the net and one off Wilby sophomore goalkeeper Nate Daunis on a breakaway in the first 12 minutes.

Twenty-eight minutes into the half, Rodas and Janos Herczeg found the mark.

Rodas delivered a perfect corner kick to the penalty box; Herczeg leapt up to head it home — bang, bang — for the lead.

Two more Torrington shots sailed over the net, but DaGraca and his teammates couldn’t surprise the Raiders defense again.

“The game was well fought on both sides,” said Wilby coach Tom Hunt.

“It’s a long season. We have to work on putting all our shots on net, but a win is a win,” smiled Fritch.