CRHS SOCCER: COGINCHAUG STUNS VALLEY

Chris Cap has been the Head Coach at Coginchaug Regional High School for 6 years.  He's had great seasons and great players.  In all that time, he's never beat Valley Regional.  There have been some very close losses and as recently as last week's 8-nil thumping; some pretty bad ones too.

Valley took the field with a record of 12-2-1 and holding on to 3rd place in the Shoreline Conference.  Coginchaug's woes have been documented in this blog; early on, they were the team to beat, before injuries to key players led to 9 straight losses.

There was a big crowd on hand Thursday afternoon at the CRHS turf field for Senior Appreciation Day, despite the game having to be played at 3:45 due to the lack of lights - a result of the selfishness of a handful of people denying many parents the privilege of watching their children compete.

CRHS picked up right where they left off in Cromwell Monday night.  They had the same burning determination to win, but today, they had the full team in uniform and ready to play for the first time since their last victory --  more than a month ago.

The game was tight for most of the first half with good defense and even possession on both sides.  Valley drew first blood with a tricky corner kick play.  Senior Co-Captain Jeff Cummings, playing just his second game after a month long illness, made a great save on the initial shot, but it was short lived when Valley smartly played a back-heel to the six and an alert and perfectly positioned player coolly punched it home for the game's first goal.

In games past, that might have been all the opposition needed to beat CRHS.  But the resurgent Blue Devils had no such inclination.  It was a nice goal - but not nearly the knock-out punch Valley was hoping for.

CRHS continued to battle and with 10 minutes to play in the half, Senior Co-Captain Tyler Kovacs pressured the goalie on a 50-50 ball and flicked it to newly assigned forward Senior Alex Preneta.  Preneta was under intense pressure from Valley's defender but was able to find a soft touch forward and an even more difficult strike to even the score before halftime.

The Devils came out after the break with more of that same intensity.  Valley was well aware of CRHS #9, and every where he went on the field there were 2 or 3, sometimes 5, black jersey's to greet him.  Just 3 minutes into the 2nd half that swarming mentality showed it's flaws.  A hard foul just out side the box set up a direct kick for CRHS.  The home team had a few tricks up their sleeves as well.  Senior Co-Captain Michael Decker lined up for the shot on goal, but instead, played it short to Kovacs.  He fired a low knuckler past the diving keeper for the go ahead goal.  The goal was as costly as it was rewarding - Tyler strained his already weakened quadriceps on the kick and had to leave the game, not to return.

Just minutes later, a direct kick from midfield taken by long-man Jeff Peracchio found the head of Alex Preneta and onto the foot of Alec Bogen for the insurance goal.

CRHS was up 2 goals.  It was nice to break the game open early in the half -- but on the downside - it was early in the half.  There were more than 36 minutes of soccer to go against a very powerful team, and I don't think anyone could say they were confident that 3-1 would be the final score. 

CRHS keeper Jeff Cummings was outstanding and put on a show that proved he's worthy of All-State mention even if he appeared in just 7 of the teams 17 matches.  He was forced to leave the game with a bloody nose and gashed lip and chin after a 3 player mash up that saved yet another potential goal.  Back-Up Keeper Danny Gavrilovic made key saves, but Coach knew this was Jeff's game, and re-inserted him as soon as the bleeding stopped.

With 6 minutes to play, Valley made a nice conversion on a corner kick.  Jeff again made the initial save but the follow-on shot was too much to handle for any keeper.  It pulled Valley within one, and again, when a momentum shift seemed apparent, the Coginchuag boys wanted nothing to do with it.

Still, the facts remained -- It was 3-2.  It was cold.  There was a bone chilling wind.  And there were six long minutes to kill.

They did it.

It was incredible to watch. 

In his postgame interview coach complimented the team on their "great character".  He said, "To come back after going down by an early goal, it shows what we're really made of.  We got healthy for about 60 minutes of today's match; having both Jeff and Tyler back really showed what type of team we could have been all year.  It's bitter sweet but we got the result that we needed and we need to refocus and get ready for Foran on Monday.  I am so proud of the lads and I couldn't be happier right now.  If we can get the result we need on Monday I know we can surprise a lot of teams come tournament time."

NEXT GAMES

FRIDAY:  GIRLS vs Valley Regional at CRHS at 3:45 (Senior Day)

MONDAY :  BOYS at FORAN (Milford) 6:30

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