STORYLINES

CUSP OF HISTORY: The next win Steve Waters gets with Old Saybrook will be No. 566 and place him as the career leader in wins in the state. Waters was denied the win in the final game of the 2020 season, a 2-1 loss to East Hampton. As luck would have it, Old Saybrook opens this season against East Hampton on Sept. 9 at 3:45 p.m. Waters, who spent 36 seasons at Farmington before stepping down in 2018, has a career record of 565-91-51, tied with former E.O. Smith coach John Blomstrann. Waters won nine CIAC state championships at Farmington, the last coming in 2016 in Class LL.

ONE FOR THE THUMB: With no state tournament last season, Hand was denied the chance to win a fifth-straight CIAC Class L championship. Or should we say, delayed in seeking a fifth title in-a-row. The Tigers have a new coach in Neil Phillips and could have enough talent to make a run at No. 5. Of course, GameTimeCT MVP Scott Testori and First-Team All-State pick Jason Wallack have graduated, but Hand has shown an ability to reload as well as any program in the state.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE NCCC: If you are going to win state championships in Class M or S, you are going to have beat at least one NCCC powerhouse. Teams from the NCCC have appeared in a Class S or M CIAC state final every year since 2003. In that time, Ellington has made eight appearances in finals, winning Class M three times; Suffield played in five finals, winning four in Class M; Granby played for four championships, winning Class M in 2005; Somers competed in eight Class S championships, taking home four titles; Coventry played in two finals, winning Class S once and Canton won Class S in 2003.

ARID FCIAC: With no teams winning a state title since 2013, the FCIAC is officially in a state title drought. In fact, when Wilton (Class L ) and Greenwich (Class LL) reached championship games in 2019 it marked the first finalists for the conference since Darien in 2015. Ridgefield being co-champions with Glastonbury in 2013 is the only other finals appearance for a FCIAC team in that time. Norwalk won Class LL in 2012.

PLAYING UP: By size, Farmington is a CIAC Class L school in boys soccer. However, the players voted to move up and compete in Class LL this fall, wanting to play against the state’s best teams. That would include having to get through CCC rivals Glastonbury (5 LL titles since 2013) and Hall (defending Class LL Champions in 2019). “I could not be more proud of their decision to take the much tougher road and compete against bigger schools,” Farmington coach Nick Boorman said. “That is what Farmington Soccer is all about. High character, courage, perseverance.” Farmington won the 2016 Class LL title and has won 12 state titles overall with three of those coming in LL.