TORRINGTON >> Torrington High School’s boys soccer team announced its soccer maturity in an opener at the Robert H. Frost Sports Complex against a young, inexperienced Kennedy High School team.
The result was an 8-1 Torrington crush going down as Eagle Coach Tony Teixeira’s worst loss in 20 years at Kennedy.
“We wanted to come out and set the tone for the season – starting out on a positive note,” said Torrington coach Mike Fritch. “We did that.”
Yes.
The Red Raiders scored two minutes into the game, then led 5-0 by the half.
The Eagles scored four minutes from the end of the game while Torrington’s bench was on the field. Even then, Fritch had to call off his talented backups.
“Enough!” he hollered after the eighth Torrington goal whistled into the net, 17 minutes left. “Shoot for distance.”
Junior Amar Suljic led the scoring charge with two goals. Shane Bierfeldt, Chris Parrotta, John McCarthy, Kevin Vac, Jose Peguero and Juan Munoz added single scores.
“We possessed the ball really well in the first half. We got to the corners well,” said Bierfeldt, the Raiders’ senior captain.
Bierfeldt proved his point. In the second minute, Alex Church took the game’s first corner kick, then hustled into the middle to touch a pass out to Bierfeldt, 10 yards off the left post for the game’s first goal.
Four minutes later, Suljic took his first score in from the right side.
Chris Parrotta made another Church corner kick pay off in the 18th minute.
McCarthy headed in a pass from Nick Mancini at 34 minutes.
Two minutes before the end of the period, Vaca headed his goal on a deflection in front of the net for the 5-0 first-half total.
“We would like to have played our starters longer, but it was a good chance to evaluate some of our other kids,” said Fritch.
“We’ve worked all summer long,” said Suljic. “Last year’s disappointment (an overtime NVL championship loss to Watertown) just made us hungrier. This year, we have our eyes on some prizes.”
“Our goal is to be a step ahead of last year,” said Fritch.
The Raiders kept proving their points in the second half.
With starters in briefly, Bierfeldt and Suljic teamed up for another goal two minutes into the half.
Juan Munoz and Jose Paguero showed the Raiders’ depth 14 minutes in.
Munoz bounced in the final Torrington goal in the 23rd minute.
“We were together,” said Suljic, as shorthand for this year’s emphasis on team play as opposed to last year’s dependence on All-State mifielder Jairo Borja for much of the team’s distribution.
The defense, led by McCarthy, completed the “togetherness.”
“We marked our men really well,” said the big senior captain. “We all lifted weights in the summer to get ready for this.”
“We’re young and inexperienced,” said Eagle coach Teixeira. “We have three seniors. The majority is sophomores and freshmen. We’ll have to take our lumps. This is the worst loss I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Torrington travels to St. Paul-Bristol Thursday, where the Falcons bring back most of last year’s starters.
“It will give us an early test,” said Fritch.
Scoreboard
Torrington 8, Kennedy 1
At Torrington High School
Kennedy 0 1-1
Torrington 5 3-8
Goals: K-Eh Ka Lu Htoo. T-Shane Bierfeldt; Amar Suljic 2; Chris Parrotta; John McCarthy; Kevin Vaca; Jose Peguero; Juan Munoz. Assists: K-Andi Pasholli. T-Alex Church 2; Nick Mancini; McCarthy; Munoz. Shots: 22-4 Torrington. Saves: K-Tyler Wrenn; Arslan Nikocevic 12. T-Zack Paniatti; Collin Genovese 2.
Records: Kennedy 0-1; Torrington 1-0.
