‘A smooth finisher’

Reigning state Player of the Year Testori hasn’t skipped a beat

MADISON — It had been almost seven months since Scott Testori played in a live soccer game.

There was no premier soccer season this spring, just some practices and some friendlies during the summer.

Not until very late August did the non-skillwork begin after weeks of conditioning in cohorts of the same 10 players to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

Almost a month later, the full team was finally able to practice together.

Then came that first game on Oct. 2.

Testori picked up where he left off from the 2019 season. He scored the game’s only two goals as Hand defeated rival Guilford.

“To even get a game is amazing; a game against our rivals, even better; at home, even better and to end it off with a 2-0 victory, it’s the best you can get,” Testori said after the game.

The second goal was a thing of beauty: a 35-yard line drive into the net. The fans at the Surf Club — actually the fans outside the stadium, because no spectators were allowed into the Surf Club due to COVID-19 — cheered with delight.

“That’s an all-world goal. I mean, c’mon, 35-40 yards on a frozen rope?” Guilford coach Curtis Gullette said.

Testori really hadn’t skipped a beat. The last time he was in a Hand uniform, Testori scored a pair of goals and added an assist to help Hand beat Wilton in double overtime to claim its fourth consecutive Class L state championship.

Testori finished last season with 24 goals and 16 assists to earn All-American and All-New England honors. He had 58 coming into this season.

There won’t be a fifth straight title for Hand, or a chance for Testori to conclude his career in another state championship

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Scott Testori won’t get a chance to win a fourth straight Class L state championship, but he already has left his mark at Hand.