Torrington’s Amar Suljic shots and scores the lone goal in the Red Raiders 1-0 win against Woodstock Academy in the first round of the Class L State Tournament.
Marianne Killackey – Special to the Register Citizen
TORRINGTON >> No. 4 Torrington (18-2) shook itself loose for a second-half goal, beating No. 29 Woodstock Academy (6-10-1) 1-0 in a Class L Boys Soccer Tournament first-round game at Torrington High School Tuesday evening.
“We played very tight in the first half,” said Red Raider coach Mike Fritch Jr. “I think a little of that was hangover from Wednesday (a 4-1 NVL Tournament Final loss to Naugatuck).
“Last year, we weren’t ready (in a 1-0 first-round loss to Lyman Hall),” said Fritch. “So we got together an impromptu alumnae game Sunday; I think it helped.”
Photos: Woodstock Academy at Torrington
Still, there were nightmares to overcome.
“What was on our mind was, ‘What if we lose?’” said forward Amar Suljic.
“We came out flat, a little like last year,” said midfielder Shane Bierfeldt.
At the same time, in an up-and-down year, the Centaurs were definitely ‘up’ on Tuesday.
“They played well,” said Woodstock Academy coach Jared Morse. “It was one of their better performances. We’re young. We have 14 juniors; just one or two have varsity experience.”
The combination of a hesitant Torrington and over-reaching Centaurs produced a first-half standoff at the Robert H. Frost Sports Complex.
“We played cautious; sometimes, the more you try not to make a mistake, the more mistakes you make,” said Suljic.
Torrington’s John McCarthy heads the ball on net in the Red Raiders 1-0 win against Woodstock Academy in the first round of the Class L State Tournament.
Marianne Killackey – Special to the Register Citizen
“They were aggressive,” said Bierfeldt.
The aggression earned Woodstock the game’s first shot, a minute in.
A minute later, Torrington took the first corner kick of the game. A shot from the top of the box sailed high over the net.
Tight.
Midway through the half, the Centaurs, from the Eastern Connecticut Conference, looked at least as impressive as the Raiders.
“With their speed up front, I told them not to get beat,” said Woodstock coach Morse.
“They packed it in,” said Bierfeldt.
Nevertheless, Torrington’s Chris Parrotta had a golden opportunity in the 22nd minute. Coming from the left corner, in a patented charge, Parrotta’s shot just missed the far post on its way out of bounds.
At the other end, Torrington goalkeeper Zack Paniati hit his stride with a catch on a Woodstock corner kick bending in toward his goal.
The Raiders had a 4-3 shooting edge at the half. No matter. Shots they normally make flew wide or high.
“At halftime, we talked about mistakes — we had a lot in the first half,” said Coach Fritch. “(Woodstock Academy is) a good team, but we weren’t playing our game. We needed to loosen up.”
The second half turned around.
Now Torrington was the aggressor, despite Woodstock’s physical play.
Bigger Raider threats brought the best from Centaur goalkeeper Conor Hanlon (8 saves).
Seven minutes into the period, he scrambled for a save, lost it, then went back and grabbed it.
Eleven minutes in, he waded through a crowd for a Torrington corner kick into the box.
At 16 minutes, Bierfeldt hammered a line drive from 20 yards straight out. Hanlon juggled it momentarily, then held.
Seconds later, Parrotta was back for a hard shot with his left foot.
Raider threats mounted. The stops pointed more and more toward overtime.
Eleven minutes from the end of regulation, Torrington found its gold standard.
Wrenching the ball away at midfield, Bierfeldt passed ahead to Suljic in the left corner. Suljic pinched in, then whistled a shot high into the upper far corner of the net.
“I knew it was going to be that kind of goal,” said Coach Morse. “They beat us. There was nothing you could do about it. If we had to get beat, I’m glad it was that kind of goal.”
“We advanced. At this point, that’s all that matters,” grinned Torrington’s Fritch.
No. 13 Pomperaug-Southbury, Torrington’s second-round opponent, beat No. 20 Maloney-Meriden by the same 1-0 score.
Pomperaug comes to Torrington High School Thursday at 5 p.m.
Contact Peter Wallace at (860) 489-3121 Ext. 330.
No. 4 Torrington 1, No. 29 Woodstock Academy 0
At Torrington High School
Woodstock Academy 0 0—0
Torrington 0 1—1
Goal: T—Amar Suljic. Assist: T—Shane Bierfeldt. Shots: 9-5 Torrington. Saves: WA—Conor Hanlon 8; T—Zack Paniati 5.
Records: Woodstock Academy 6-10-1; Torrington 18-2.
