Avon boys share state championship with Branford

The ball draws a crowd of Branford and Avon players in Saturday’s Class L championship game in Middletown. (New Haven Register photo by Peter Paguaga)

MIDDLETOWN, Nov. 15 – For the Avon High boys soccer team, the ending of Saturday’s Class L championship game wasn’t quite what they had in mind. 

The Falcons were looking for a state championship – their first since 2000. They outshot Branford High by a 28-2 margin. Falcon goalie Dan Magrini didn’t make a save. Junior Riley Strassner scored his team-leading 33rd goal of the season. 

Yet, when the game was complete, No. 11 Avon and No. 17 Branford stood together as co-champions after the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie in double overtime. There are no penalty kicks  in the championship game after the two 10-minute overtime periods. 

“Coming off the field, they were crushed,” Avon coach Dave Zlatin told the New Haven Register. “But I was trying to be positive with them, that it’s still a state title. By the time they were posing for the pictures, I think it had begun to sink in.” 

It’s Avon’s eighth state championship in school history. Avon lost in the Class L final in 2011 and 2012.

Click here to read more on the game from GameTIme CT.

Avon 1, Branford 1, 2 OT
At Middletown
Avon (16-1-4)               0  1  0  0  — 1
Branford (13-6-3)         0  1  0  0  — 1
Goals: Riley Strassner (A); Aaron Radulski (B); Saves: Nick Cordero (B) 11, Dan Magrini (A) 0; Shots: Avon, 28-2