Girls soccer: Playoff spot goes to Weston

Written by Rocco Valluzzo
Thursday, 29 October 2009 11:11

In one respect the Weston High girls soccer team can breathe a little easier when it plays its last game of the regular season this week.

The Trojans do not have to worry about having to win it to qualify for the South-West Conference playoffs. That was a matter for their game on Monday against Bunnell.

Both teams needed the win to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot. Although it was an evenly matched affair, the Trojans’ lone goal turned out to be the difference as they held on for a 1-0 win in Stratford.

Weston, which missed last year’s league playoffs, got all the offense it needed in the first half. Rachel Lugossy scored the game-winner assisted by Natalie Odierna.

The Trojans as well as the Bulldogs had ample chances to score with each side getting nine shots. In goal for the Trojans, Maggie Maretz had four saves to get the shutout.

They put themselves in good shape to qualify when they visited Notre Dame of Fairfield last Tuesday, Oct. 20. The result was their highest scoring game as well as their most lopsided victory as they shut out the competition 6-0.

Taking a 3-0 lead in the first half, the Trojans never looked back. They equaled this total in the second as they cruised to victory.

Four different players found the net. Grace Mattison and Callie Bowie scored two goals apiece while Nikki Pressman and Meg Sanborn each scored once. Anna Dickstein, Mattison and Bowie (two) had assists.

Hannah Hutchins had a quiet day in goal for the first half, not having to make any saves. Maretz took over in the second, making one.

Weston had 20 shots to Notre Dame’s two.

The team then suffered a couple of setbacks, one being a game at home on Friday against Joel Barlow. The Trojans remained within striking distance of the visitors but came up short in a 3-2 loss.

Barlow, which outshot Weston 17-9 for the game, had a 2-1 advantage going into halftime. Each side added another tally to keep it a one-goal game.

Mattison and Bowie each scored for Weston. The former also had an assist, as did Macky Young. Hutchins was in goal for Weston, making nine saves.

Another formidable opponent awaited Weston when it hosted Masuk the next day. Scoring was difficult for the Trojans, who were denied by the Panther defense in a 3-0 shutout loss.

Masuk led only 1-0 at halftime but the Trojans could not erase the gap in the second. In the meantime the visitors added some insurance with two more goals.

Now, 7-5-3 overall and 6-5-3 in the SWC, Weston will play the top-seeded team in the quarterfinals against an opponent and at a site to be determined.