NECONN pg 1 11-29-12
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- Category: Past Issues
caption, page 9:
Winning Team
The NECONN U12 boys' soccer team won its district championship. Back row, left to right: Joe Touchette, Justin Haynes, Ethan Holcomb, Zack Lavoie, Hunter Touchette, Hayden Belliveau, Liam McDermott, Richard Schad. Front: Mason Larkin, Mason Scott, Collin Lavoie, John Rogers, Will Schad, John Mooney. Courtesy photo.
Nov. 4, the NECONN U12 boys’ soccer team won the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Northeast District Championship for the fall 2012 season.
After a 7-1 record in the regular season, NECONN drew a semifinal matchup on the road against a strong Columbia/Windham (CWSA) club. CWSA took an early 1-0 lead and that score held until halftime. NECONN came out strong after the break and scored the equalizer when Liam McDermott and Hayden Belliveau connected to thread a pass to Will Schad who fired a shot past the CWSA keeper. The game was a back and forth affair for most of the second half with goalkeeper John Mooney making several key saves and Mason Larkin spearheading a strong defensive unit. Zack Lavoie broke the deadlock for NECONN with a great finish after an assist from Justin Haynes, and NECONN held on for a 2-1 victory to advance to the championship the following day.
In the finals, NECONN faced a talented and spirited WAM club at Stafford High School. NECONN got the better of the first half play, but was unable to finish one into the WAM net. The second half saw an evenly matched effort with good chances for both sides. Midway through the half, Hunter Touchette carried the ball skillfully past several WAM defenders and delivered a crisp pass ahead to Will Schad who outran a WAM defender and punched a shot into the corner of the net. For the remainder of the game, WAM aggressively worked to equalize, but NECONN shut them down with key plays from Collin Lavoie, Mason Scott, John Rogers and the entire NECONN defense.
Many of the NECONN players have been playing together for two-plus years, so the championship was truly a team victory and a great reward for their hard work, including leadership support from midfielder Ethan Holcomb who had to sit out the finals recovering from a concussion. The team is coached by Richard Schad, Joe Touchette, and Matt Holcomb and is eager to defend their title in the spring of 2013.