Second half surge lifts Avon to state championship win

The Avon High girls soccer team celebrates after beating Farmington to win the Class L state championship. (Photo by John Primovic)

MIDDLETOWN, Nov. 26 – Senior Erica Primovic scored a pair of second half goals as the Avon High girls soccer team rallied from a one-goal halftime deficit to beat arch-rival Farmington Saturday night, 2-1 to win the Class L state championship at Middletown High.

Primovic ripped a pair of shots past Farmington goalie Courtney Hofer in the second half to lift the Falcons (16-1-2) to their first state championship since 2003. Primovic, who will play at the University of Hartford next spring, has scored a team-high 20 goals this season.

No. 8 Farmington (12-4-3) took a 1-0 lead with about 20 minutes gone in the first half on a rocket off the foot of senior Amber Manning. The Indians controlled much of the play early in the second half as they were looking for their first state title since 2005.

But No. 2 Avon began to find some gaps in the Farmington defense. With about 21 minutes left in the game, junior Hunter McCarthy chipped the ball forward to Primovic, who was surrounded by three defenders. But Primovic was able to create enough space to control the ball and rip it into the left side of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

The goal energized the Falcons, who added the game winner about eight minutes later. Senior Grace Lennon carried the ball down the right sideline and made a nice, looping cross into the front of the net. The ball bounced once, Primovic got a toe on it and then she ripped it into the left side of the net for a 2-1 edge.

Farmington began to press in the final minutes and had two good opportunities, including a nice shot from 30 yards with about 3 minutes remaining and a shot to the left corner of the net that Falcon goalie Kaylan Conrad deflected away with 3 seconds left in regulation.

It was Avon’s third straight trip to the Class L championship game. They had dropped title games to RHAM and New Canaan the past two seasons.

Avon 2, Farmington 1
At Middletown
Farmington (12-4-3)      1  0  — 1
Avon (16-1-2)                  0  2  — 2
Goals: Erica Primovic (A) 2, Amber Manning (F); Assists: Grace Lennon (A), Hunter McCarthy (A); Saves: Courtney Hofer (F) 4, Kaylan Conrad (A) 5; Shots: Avon, 9-8; Corner kicks, Farmington 3-2

Girls soccer

Class L championship
Avon 2, Farmington 1

Class L semifinals
Avon 1,  RHAM 0

Class L quarterfinals
Avon 1, Berlin 0

Class L 2nd round
Avon 2, E.O. Smith 1 (PK 4-2)