The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
MIDDLETOWN’S DIVISION HOPES DASHED BY BERLIN
Redcoats blank Blue Dragons for CCC South lead
This was domination.
Berlin clinched at least a tie for the Central Connecticut Conference South Division girls soccer championship with a 2-0 win over Middletown in front of more than 300 at Rosek-Skubel Stadium Monday evening.
“We got beat the whole night from start to finish,” said Middletown coach Nick Libera. “Berlin was the best team tonight. They wanted it more than us, they were hungrier than us.”
The Redcoats had an 18-7 shot advantage - it seemed like more - and if it were not for a brilliant performance in goal by Middletown’s Amy Kozlowski (12 saves) it would have been much worse.
“Berlin was in complete control of the division up until the last two years [when Middletown won],” said Libera. “I just think they wanted to win it back; that drove them.”
Whatever the reasons, Berlin dominated play. The ball was in the Middletown end for most of the night. That it was 0-0 at the half had everything to do with Kozlowski, who made a terrific diving save at 31:40, stopped a breakaway at 19:40 when she came out to meet the shot, and had a third terrific stop with 15 minutes left in the half.
Another great Berlin opportunity came up empty when a shot banged into the side of the net. So while Berlin had no goals to show
FROMPAGE 1 for it, therewas sense of inevitability on this night.
“I wasn’t frustrated,” said Berlin coach Steve Yanosy. “That’s how soccer is. Their keeper made some clutch saves in the first half. We just told the kids to keep on working in the second half. It came down to big plays and we made them.”
Berlin just missed early in the second half when a howitzer banged off the cross bar. It was after that that the Blue Dragons had their only offensive flurry of the night. Middletown put pressure on the goal and a rebound shot by Sam Fletcher was blocked at 31:30.
But it was right after that the Redcoats streaked down the far sideline and Sophia Morrell fed Sarah Bosco for a goal with 29:15 left to play to give Berlin a 1-0 lead.
Berlin (12-0-1 in the division and 12-2-1 overall) made another big play with 11:31 left when Taylor Budney made a pretty pass to Bosco for a goal and at 2-0, this one was over.
The Dragons had a chance to get on the board with 3:30 left, but Alex Giardina’s shot was blocked and then the area in front of the net became a scrum before Berlin cleared. Berlin keeper Michaela Dehm had just two saves.
“I think the loss to RHAM [2-0] last week, jolted our confidence,” said Libera, who saw his team fall to 12-2-1, 11-2-1 in the CCC South. “We were hoping to respond tonight and get our confidence back. I was pleased that the kids didn’t quit and kept fighting. Now we have to get our confidence back to get ready for the CCC tournament.”
Middletown will host Bulkeley on Senior Night Wednesday at 6 p.m. The CCC playoffs begin Saturday and the Blue Dragons will be on the road.
Berlin will officially clinch the division with a win or tie with Plainville Wednesday. The Redcoats are prohibitive favorites.