Avon’s Jack Keenan controls the ball in Wednesday’s field hockey tournament game in Berlin. Keenan had two goals in a big win at the Silverdome.
HAMDEN, Nov. 18 – Everyone gets opportunities in life. It is what we can do with those opportunities that make a difference.
The No. 2 Daniel Hand boys soccer team had numerous opportunities to score goals in Wednesday night’s Class L semifinal game with No. 14 Avon at Hamden High. The Tigers missed scoring a goal on their first shot of the game that banged off the crossbar, went straight down to the turf and bounced away. Some open shots sailed over the crossbar and others were wide of the net.
“We missed a ton of chances tonight,” Hand coach Stan Latkowski lamented.
Avon had just a few chances to score and they pounced on them. Twice, senior Jack Keenan took control the ball after it deflected off a Hand defender and scored a goal. And then, Avon’s defense led by goalie Daniel Magrini stood tall as the Falcons upset the Tigers, 3-2 on penalty kicks to earn a berth in Saturday’s Class L state championship for the fourth time in the last five years.
Avon (16-6) will face No. 5 Wethersfield (19-2-1) in the final at 1 p.m. at Middletown High. The Eagles stunned Glastonbury to win the Central Connecticut Conference tournament about two weeks ago. Avon shared the title with Branford a year ago and will be looking for its first outright championship since 2000.
The Falcons celebrate Wednesday night’s win over No. 2 Hand-Madison on penalty kicks.
On this night, it was the Tigers who were stunned while the Falcons celebrated a return to the state finals. Hand controlled large portions of the game. They had more than 20 shots including 13 on goal. Magrini made 11 saves and his defense of John St. Onge, Aron Greene, Riley Welter and Collin Dryfe were excellent throughout the contest.
But after 90 minutes and another 20 minutes of overtime, the game was tied and off to penalty kicks.
After three shooters in the first round of five shooters, Avon led 1-0. Magrini stopped Hand’s first three penalty kicks while Henry stopped two shots, including one shot that he threw his arm back and the ball deflected off of it.
“I just try to clear my head as best as I can and focus on the ball and go where my guys tell me,” Magrini said. “Sometimes, I can tell by the way they run up the ball (which will they will shoot it).”
In round four, Avon’s Brendon Brown high into to the left side of the net for a 2-1 Avon lead. Magrini stopped Hand’s Matt Henry to set up the fifth and final shot for the Falcons. John St. Onge drilled the ball to the left and the goalie incorrectly guessed and dove to the right side for the game-winning shot.
“This is a tough one to swallow,” Latkowski said. “The effort was there. I thought this was our best game of the year the way we moved the ball. You can accept defeat when you don’t play well or when the team is better than you.
“When the coach (David Zlatin) shook my hand, he told me flat out that we were the better team and that we deserved to win the game,” Latkowski said. “It’s a nice compliment but what are we going to do with that. My kids played well. I thought it was our best game of the year the way we moved the ball.”
Hand (17-2-1), whose first loss came in an upset loss on penalty kicks to Hamden in the quarterfinal of the CCC Tournament, took a 1-0 lead with 28:24 gone in the first half on a head ball from 15 years away from Drew Montgomery. Avon tied the game within a minute.
Avon’s Kobe Bryant put a crossing pass across the front of the net. It deflected off a Hand defender and right to Keenan, who took a few steps and scored to tie the bout at 1-1.
“We had to come back and that really motivated us,” Keenan said. “Instead of backing down and getting mad at each other, we got right back up and scored a goal.”
Avon’s Brendon Brown looks to move upfield against Hand’s Jake Brown.
In the second half, Keenan gave Avon a 2-1 lead with 27:14 left in regulation. A long pass from downfield deflected off a Hand defender and right in front of Keenan. He took it strong to the goal and scored to give Avon a 2-1 lead.
All that did was wake up a sleepy Tiger offense. They pounded the Falcons with Johnie Gulcicek scoring the final goal with 23 minutes left in regulation to tie the bout at 1-1. They continued the pounding for another 10 minutes but couldn’t convert
“It was tough,” said Magrini, who stopped 13 shots in regulation and overtime. “But our defense was amazing, especially in overtime. They played great.”
Hand was looking to play in the final for the first time since 1999. The Falcons shared the state title with Branford a year ago.
Avon 3, Hand 2 (penalty kicks, 3-1)
At Hamden
Avon (16-6) 1 1 0 0 — 2
Hand (17-2-1) 1 1 0 0 — 2
Goals: Jack Keenan (A) 2, Drew Montgomery (H), Johnie Gukicek (H); Assist: Kobe Barnes (A); Saves: Danny Magrini (A) 11, Curtis Henry (H) 7; Shots: Hand, 13-9; Corner kicks: Avon, 10-4: Penalty kicks made: Keenan (A), Brendan Brown (A), John St. Onge (A), Matt Henry (H)
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