Suffield uses their head to score in final minutes and beat Avon for NCCC title

Suffield’s Dylan Cashman (5) tries to contain Avon’s Kevin Brown in Wednesday night’s NCCC game in Suffield. The Wildcats beat Avon, 1-0.

SUFFIELD, Oct. 29 – It was Avon a few weeks ago that ended Suffield High’s long 43-game winning streak with an emotional overtime tie at Fisher Meadows in Avon.

The Wildcats topped that on a wet Wednesday night. The Suffield boys soccer team broke a scoreless tie with 2:05 remaining in the game, scoring on a wild head ball play from senior Kyle Salters to beat Avon, 1-0 and clinch its fourth straight NCCC championship.

Two other players headed the ball before Salters got his head on the ball and drove it into the net. Off a corner kick, Suffield sophomore Andrew Moskowicz drilled a line drive toward teammate Matt Guminiak and his head ball lofted the ball toward the net. In a crowd of players, Robert Della Penna used his head to flick the ball to Salters, who put it past Avon goalie Danny Magrini.

It was only the fifth goal that Avon has allowed all season.

“A lot went on during the play and Kyle was in the right place at the right time,” Suffield coach Mark Beigel said. “He was hungry and that is what we needed.”

Once Moskowicz hit it, the ball never touched the ground until it was in the net thanks to three players heading the ball.

The win gives Suffield (15-0-1, 14-0) its fourth straight league title – the first NCCC squad to accomplish this feat since E.O. Smith won four in a row from 1995-98. Avon, which is playing in its final NCCC season, could have won its first league title since 2010 with a victory.

But the Falcons (12-1-3, 12-1-1 NCCC) had a tough time getting off quality shots on Suffield goalie Austin Mankouski. “They’re a fast team,” Avon coach David Zlatin said. “You think you’re open for the shot and they rush in and close you down quicker than you’re used to.”

And when Avon did get off some shots, Mankouski was able to gobble them up. “He’s a first-year goalie that plays with a lot of poise back there,” Beigel said. “That’s why we’re confident we can do something in (the Class) LL tournament.”

One of his better saves came early in the second half when Avon’s Kevin Brown took a nice pass from teammate Matthew Fuge and rifled a low, hard shot that Mankouski dove to his left to stop. Mankouski made nine stops to earn the shutout.

“Avon has a lot to be proud of in terms what they brought (for effort),” Beigel said. “This is what this game has been like the past two seasons. They pressed us.”

Avon made some nice defensive plays, too. Late in the game, 6-foot-4 Stephen Dorney cleared out a Suffield scoring chance. A few minutes later, Magrini punched out a shot and it went right to Salters at point blank range. But Avon’s Kobe Barnes deflected the kick away. With 2:46 remaining, Magrini deflected a hard shot over the net.

Less than a minute later, Suffield scored to take the lead for good.

“This was huge,” Beigel said. “We talked about this game and how it defines a championship squad. Pulling out a win in a game like this goes a long way.”

Suffield has won the last three Class M championships but will be participating in the Class LL tournament next week. Avon will play in the Class L tournament.

“You have to let it go. We have a tournament game on Monday at 2 p.m.,” Zlatin said. “That is where our focus is now. League titles are great but it’s about a state title now. One of our captains said that sometimes you have to lose to learn how to win.”

Since Avon is leaving the NCCC to enter the Central Connecticut Conference next fall, this is likely the final regular season contest between the two long-time rivals.

“Games with Suffield always help us,” Zlatin said. “It’s the level of play you’ll see in five games in the state tournament.”

NOTES: In the latest state coaches poll, Suffield was ranked No. 3 in the Class LL/L poll with Avon ranked No. 5.

Suffield 1, Avon 0
At Suffield
Avon (12-1-3)             0  0  — 0
Suffield (15-0-1)         0  1  — 1
Goal: Kyle Salters (S); Assist: Matt Guminiak (S), Robert Della Penna (S); Saves: Austin Mankouski (S) 9, Danny Magrini (A); Shots: Suffield, 10-6; Corner kicks: Suffield, 5-4