- Details
- Category: Past Issues
NECONN
boys U12
soccer falls
to WAM
Shorthanded and rusty after scheduling and weather dealt the NECONN boys’ U12 soccer team a two-week layoff, WAM (Willington, Ashford, Mansfield ) United came to town Oct. 17 firing on all cylinders and handed the home team a 5-1 defeat. WAM controlled much of the early play and patiently waited for NECONN errors to put four goals on the first-half scoreboard. NECONN defenders Jack Liggett, William Liscomb, Connor Fillmore and Alec Nystrom did their best to derail the WAM attack, but momentum was clearly on the side of the visitors. Down by three goals early in the contest, Alexander Frankhouser took over the goaltending duties from David Redfield, and both players began to excel at their new positions. Although WAM was able to get one more goal before the end of the half, NECONN seemed to pick up its play and battle harder for position.
In the second half, NECONN forwards Sam Paul, Adam Trudeau and Elijah Dufour finally created some good offense. Trudeau rang one off the crossbar and Dufour just missed connecting on a far-post run. The offensive formation of NECONN allowed WAM their fifth goal of the day midway through the half, but NECONN never quit. With about ten minutes left in the game, Frankhouse made a nice save and immediately punted to the NECONN forwards on the run. Max Paro was first down the field, ran under the bouncing ball and took a quick, instep volley just inside the box that bulged into the top, left corner. Although the scoring was done for the day, the 1-1 second half score was a true indicator of how NECONN stepped up its game in the final 35-minute span and played much better soccer. NECONN takes their 3-4 record on the road Oct. 24 to Ellington for a 4:15 game.