Gaelettes stunned by Lyman Hall

Written by Ken Morse, Correspondent
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 13:50

No one would have blamed the Shelton girls soccer team if it had a drop off this season after graduating 10 players from last year’s 13-4-1 team that ended up in the second round of the state tournament.

That scenario wasn’t good enough for the nine returning seniors, who so far this season have left their own mark as Shelton tore up opponents compiling a 10-3 record, scoring 35 goals and allowing just seven.

Fans came out in droves to say good bye to this very special group on Senior Night at Edward Finn Stadium on Oct. 22.

Nothing could ruin this night except for Lyman Hall of Wallingford, as the Trojans won a 1-0 decision.

It was the third game in three nights for the Gaelettes and the pre-game smiles were reduced to tears as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

“This group is my first freshman class,” said Shelton coach Marvin Miller, who paused briefly to compose himself. “It’s a little hard to see them go. It’s just so tough. We played so hard... it’s senior night and there were a lot of distractions.

“It took us a good 15 to 20 minutes to get our focus, but once we did I thought we played a solid game. We just didn’t take care of our chances when we had them.”

Lyman Hall tallied at nine minutes when Lauren Holroyd got the angle on a defender and let go of a shot in the crease. Junior keeper Melissa Brouillette came out to defend and the ball took a high bounce over her head landing just under the cross bar and rippling the back of the net.

Led by senior tri-captains Jen Spicer, Allison Ferro and Jenna Filakovsky, Shelton wasn’t too concerned about the deficit. There was a lot of game left to play, but they didn’t count on the stellar play of goalie Lindsay Morgan in the net for the Trojans.

Morgan fended off 16 shots, making crucial saves as one opportunity after another slipped by the Gaelettes.

Brouillette turned back five shots to keep the Trojans at bay and the defense of seniors Ferro, Megan Shuster, Emily Malay and Carmellissa LoBello limited the chances inside the box.

“The crazy thing about this game is you can be the best team out there for 79 minutes, and in that one minute you can end up on the losing side,” Miller said. “It can be a very unforgiving game.”

Lyman Hall (2-10) realized it was not going to penetrate the defense of the Gaelettes again so the visitors decided to take up aim from 30 yards out to draw them out of the box.

Several shots took a high bounding approach and slammed off the posts or the crossbar.

Chloe Ashcroft, Kelsey Manning, Alexa Mastrony and Filakovsky adjusted and began taking away those opportunities and it put a charge in the Shelton offense.

Danica Foglio got past a defender and directed a lead pass to Spicer, who raced in from the left flank in the 21st minute.

Spicer put a header over the goalie and into the net, but the referee ruled offsides and disallowed the goal.

Shelton picked up the intensity in the second half, as Megan Manzo dribbled down the far sidelines eluding several defenders along the way.

A wide open shot slammed into the post and the rebound went well over the crossbar.

The Gaelettes kept the pressure on producing one opportunity after another, but nothing would go in.

Finally, with 23:28 to go, Shelton had the opportunity it was looking for.

Spicer made a quick turn on a defender and had a clear angle to the box. She was all alone in a one-on-one with the goalie, but the shot skid by the post.

Two minutes later, Sonali Rodrigues directed a pass to Spicer who charged in for the shot.

Morgan slipped and went down leaving an open net, but a Trojan defender came out of nowhere to knock the shot away before Spicer could get it off with under 19 minutes to play.

Angela Ferro and Anna Jacabacci helped push the ball into the Lyman Hall end, but time was running out on the Gaelettes.

Jessica Hartmayer and Alexandra Farley made sure the Trojans never got it over midfield and Shelton continued to attack the net.

“The longer they held the lead the more confident they became,” Miller said. “I felt if we could get one we would score five. We just never got that one.”