MONROE, CT — Masuk High’s boys soccer team closed out September and began play in October with some low-scoring action against tough opponents in and out of conference.
On Sept. 23, Masuk took on Abbott RVT at Broadview Middle School in Danbury. Anthony D’Auria scored in the first half for an early lead. Masuk held off Abbot’s attacking offense until 17 minutes left in the second half. But Abbott scored twice in the late stages of the game for a 2-1 win.
Masuk visited Stratford High the next day. Both teams were playing excellent defense going into a scoreless half. With 14 minutes left, Cash Dewey found Cristiano Rivera, who scored from the top of the box making the score 1-0 with the game’s only goal.
On Sept. 26, Immaculate visited the Masuk Panthers under the lights in Monroe. Both teams tried aggressively to score only to be shut out by both defenses, until Immaculate scored late for a 1-0 victory.
The Bunnell Bulldogs hosted Masuk at Mastroni Field in Stratford on Oct. 1. Bunnell came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the state.
From the first touch, both teams fought tirelessly to penetrate both defenses. Senior co-captain Connor Kehlenbach kept Masuk in the game by making stellar plays in goal. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Though the match ended without a goal, it was a testament to the art of defending and the tactical intricacies of modern soccer. Both teams showcased their strengths and tenaciousness.
After the Bunnell game, Coach Brendan Cavanaugh said, “after a difficult week, it was nice to regroup and get a tie against a very good Bunnell team. The game showed we can play with anyone when we are focused. I’m very pleased with how our team played.”
Masuk is 2-1 in South-West Conference play and 5-3-4 overall. The next game for the Panthers is Oct. 8 at New Fairfield at 6 p.m.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
