Daniel Hand head coach Stan Latkowski talks to his players at halftime of the CIAC Class L soccer semifinals, Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. Hand will play Joel Barlow of Redding, for the Class L state championship title, Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Middletown High School. (Catherine Avalone/New Haven Register)
CLASS LL
No. 4 FARMINGTON (17-2-1) vs. No. 7 SHELTON (19-3-1)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Willow Brook Park, New Britain
Internet: NFHSNetwork.com (subscription required)
Championship game appearances: Farmington is making its 18th appearance, going 11-6 previously; this is Shelton’s first appearance in a final.
What to look for: Originally, Danbury was supposed to be playing in the final. But use of an academically ineligible player per CIAC rules forced the Hatters to forfeit their semifinal-round win against Shelton. Now its the Gaels trying to win their first state championship. It certainly won’t be easy. Farmington has yet to allow a goal in the tournament, so expect a low-scoring game. Shelton had an impressive come-from-behind victory at previously-unbeaten Greenwich in the quarterfinals, but one day of preparation against the best the CCC has to offer is a pretty tall order.
You should know: Farmington has allowed only three goals this entire season.
CLASS L
No. 2 HAND (14-2-4) vs. No. 13 BARLOW (10-4-5)
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Middletown High
Internet: NFHSNetwork.com (subscription required)
Championship game appearances: Hand is 3-1, last appearing in 1999; Barlow is 7-5, last appearing in 2013.
What to look for: The Falcons didn’t qualify for the South-West Conference tournament, but they managed to get to Saturday behind a strong defense and an upset over top-seeded E.O. Smith in the semifinals. Hand came from behind on three separate occasions to beat Wethersfield in the quarterfinals and handled Guilford in the semis. Hand is looking for its first state championship in 19 years.
You should know: Barlow has beaten Hand 3-0 in the last two Class L tournament matchups (2013 and 2014) between the two teams. In 2012, Hand beat Barlow 3-0 in the Class L quarterfinals.
CLASS M
No. 5 BROOKFIELD (20-1-2) vs. No. 18 ELLINGTON (14-5-1)
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Municipal Stadium, Waterbury
Internet: NFHSNetwork.com (subscription required)
Championship game appearances: Brookfield is 2-1 last appearing, and winning, in 2009; Ellington is 5-4, last appearing, and winning, in 2014.
What to look for: Ellington pulled three seeded upsets en route to the final, including a 4-3 double-overtime win against Granby in the semifinals, a team that had defeated the Purple Knights twice during the regular season. Brookfield already has a tournament title in hand, capturing the South-West Conference championship, and rides a defense that posted nine shutouts during the regular season.
You should know: Ellington posted nine consecutive shutouts before the win over Granby in the state semifinals.
CLASS S
No. 1 OLD SAYBROOK (19-0-2) vs. No. 3 COVENTRY (17-3)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: West Haven High
Internet: NFHSNetwork.com (subscription required)
Championship game appearances: Old Saybrook is 4-2, last appearing in 1998; Coventry is 0-3, losing last year to Somers in double overtime.
What to look for: Old Saybrook is the only unbeaten left in the entire boys field. The Rams won their first Shoreline Conference championship since 1964 and haven’t slowed down the last two weeks. Beating Notre Dame-Fairfield in the semifinals is a quality W. Coventry has done well to get back into the final after last season’s heart-breaking, overtime loss to Somers. Coventry owns a win over Ellington, a Class M finalist and clocked Shoreline school Valley Regional in the semifinals. It will be a tough loss on either side, the first for Old Saybrook or a second straight for Coventry in the S final in an attempt to win that first championship.
You should know: Coventry hasn’t allowed a goal in four state tournament games so far.
