Spartans foil Gaels again

Written by Pasquale DeMatteo, Correspondent
Tuesday, 27 October 2009 14:21

Shelton High was playing host to Amity High, and the plan for coach Joe D’Auria’s Gaels was to defend the Spartan’s Kevin Howard and to attack the Spartan defense in the titanic SCC Housatonic Division boys soccer matchup at Finn Stadium on Monday night.

“I told the guys this was going to be the kind of game where both teams felt each other out in the early going,” D’Auria said after Amity found a way to win a 1-0 decision for the second time this season.

“While we were feeling them out, Amity took it to us in the first 15 minutes, got a lead and defended it.”

Howard broke free in the 11th minute to put the ball in the back of the net, as Amity (12-2-0) earned its second straight division title.

“We wanted to shadow Howard all game and we did a great job defending him and keeping him away from the ball for the most part,” D’Auria said after the Gaels dropped to 9-5-0.

Shelton’s defensive effort began with a solid 1-on-1 play by Craig Beacham to take away a shot and an unrelenting defensive effort by Jawaad Qureshi on the high-scoring Howard.

There was little the Shelton defense could do on the game-winner, as Amity’s Jack Brunwin placed a perfect pass from the midfield to set up Howard on a run at the net for the goal and a 1-0 lead.

Qureshi did his job the rest of the way and kept the ball away from the Amity forward as the Shelton defense buckled down impressively.

Qureshi had one great defensive play in the first half when he cut off Howard running in from the corner and gave goalkeeper Alexander Howland a chance to get into position and make a save.

Fine defense by Arthur Jorge, Joey Joyce and Joshua Mathews kept Amity from adding to the lead, but Shelton still needed a goal.

Unfortunately for the locals, Amity controlled the ball in the midfield and gave Shelton only a few good looks at the net.

The Gaels put together a great offensive stretch late in the first half with several scoring opportunities but each one was denied by the Amity defense.

“We’re a team that puts the ball down to play it and Amity did a really good job of defending against that tonight,” D’Auria said after the Spartans’ Steve Sasso made three saves to post the shutout.

Lindsley Barrett shined during that first half stretch with a great shot on the corner of the net, but was denied by Sasso’s diving save.

Barrett also made a great pass in the air to Cody Dimauro for a header right on net, but Sasso made another pretty save to maintain the Amity lead.

Joey Pires added a shot that sailed just wide in the closing minutes of the half.

The Gaels best chance in the second half came on a rip by Jorge from 20 yards out, but the ball sailed just high over the goal.

Shots by Pires and Barrett were deflected in the box and each time Amity was able to take control of the ball.

“I think both teams had this game circled on the calendar from the beginning of the season and it turned out to be a great game,” D’Auria said.

Shelton will host Lyman Hall tonight and West Haven visits Friday.

Both games are set to start at 7 p.m.