WATERTOWN >> Two minutes into the second half of an NVL quarterfinal game between No. 5 seed Torrington and No. 4 Holy Cross girls soccer, Red Raider Paige Middleton slid into the Crusader right corner, crossing a perfect pass to Alexis Tyrrell at the goal mouth.
Tyrrell touched it in, 1-0. Torrington spent the rest of the game protecting the lead.
The Crusaders beat Torrington twice during the regular season.
“We weren’t here to play today,” said Mike Mentone. “You have to come out of the half ready to play against Torrington. Last time, they scored three goals (in a 5-3 Crusader win at Torrington).”
“We’re pretty even teams,” said Middleton. “We know how they work; they know how we work.”
“Olivia Morrison came back (from an ankle injury),” said Torrington coach Mario Longobucco. “We didn’t want to test her too much by putting her at (her usual) center midfield, so we played her in the back. Her presence was a big factor.”
Torrington takes on No. 1 Watertown in Monday’s semifinals at Municipal Stadium.
The Indians won their only previous matchup, early in the season, 2-0.
Girls soccer
Classical Magnet 4, Wolcott Tech 1 >> Classical Magnet’s offense proved to much for Wolcott Tech. The Wildcats’ Cindy Sum scored the lone goal for Wolcott Tech. The Gladiators’ Jennah Roman, Daisha Gentles, Alexis Tracy and Jane Junor each scored a goal in the victory. Wolcott Tech’s Chelsea Dimauro made 18 saves. Classica Magnet’s Casey Taylor stopped seven shots.
Northwestern 2, Shepaug 0 >> Northwestern pulled off the upset, shutting out Shepaug at home. The Highlanders’ Kaitlyn Solak and Morgan Gillette each scored a goal in the victory. Kaitlyn Deming and Kara Deming each recorded an assists. Northwestern’s Kaelin Hester and Shepaug’s Samantha Moravsky each made eight saves. Northwestern is 5-9, Shepaug is 8-6.
Scoreboard
Girls soccer
NVL Tournament
No. 5 Torrington 1, No. 4 Holy Cross 0
At Watertown High School
Torrington 0 1—1
Holy Cross 0 0—0
Goal: T—Alexis Tyrrell. Assists: T—Paige Middleton. Shots: 21-9 Holy Cross. Saves: T—Kasey Roscello 12. HC—Michelina Gagliardi 6.
Records: Torrington 9-7-1; Holy Cross 10-7.
Classical Magnet 4, Wolcott tech 1
At Wolcott Tech High School
Goals: WT—Cindy Sum. CM—Jennah Roman; Daisha Gentles; Alexis Tracy; Jane Junor. Saves: WT—Chelsea Dimauro 18. CM—Casey Taylor 7.
Northwestern 2, Shepaug 0
At Northwestern High School
Shepaug 0 0—0
Northwestern 2 0—2
Goals: NW—Kaitlyn Solak; Morgan Gillette. Assists: NW—Kaitlyn Deming; Kara Deming. Saves: NW—Kaelin Hester 8. S—Samantha Moravsky 8.
Records: Northwestern 5-9; Shepaug 8-6.
