HARTFORD, CT \u2014 It wasn’t easy for the Tolland High School Eagles, but the favorites Saturday were able to eke out the CIAC Class M state boys soccer championship.<\/p>\n
The Eagles defeated a game Weston High School, 2-1, a contest that started with a deficit and progressed into a relentless attack that, in the end, produced just enough goals to win.<\/p>\n
Despite falling behind early and his team securing the game-winner with only four minutes left, Tolland boys soccer coach Mike Caccomo said he was never worried, even though he trailed 1-0 at the half.<\/p>\n “We talked at halftime and I said ‘We’ll be OK,'” Caccomo said just before enjoying a i celebratory ce water bath on the Trinity Health Stadium turf. “We’re not afraid of being down a goal.”<\/p>\n Tolland went into the game as the favorites, seeded sixth and enjoying an 11-3-2 regular season mark.<\/p>\n West High School’s Trojans, led by head coach Thomas Guardado, were seeded 24, going into the CIAC tourney with a 5-4-7 regular season mark.<\/p>\n As often happens with championship high school soccer games, the play was deliberate and disciplined, with no major chances early.<\/p>\n Tolland, the favorites, spent a majority of its ball possession in Weston’s half of the field, making the Trojan defense work hard to keep it scoreless.<\/p>\n But then Weston struck fast, with a header by senior Luka Navaresse putting the Trojans up 1-0 as the ball shot past Tolland goalkeeper Andrew Chater.<\/p>\n Less than a couple minutes later, Tolland appeared to tie the score.<\/p>\n But a long-distance goal by senior Carson Merluzzo was controversially disallowed by an “indirect free kick.”<\/p>\n Two yellow cards were, subsequently, issued to members of the Tolland bench as coaches protested.<\/p>\n With an indirect free kick, a ball cannot be kicked directly into the goal, which is what happened in this instance.<\/p>\n Had the referee awarded a direct free kick, the goal would have been allowed.Find out what's happening in Weston-Redding-Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n
Find out what's happening in Weston-Redding-Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n
Tolland continued to be dangerous in the first half as they pushed the ball deep into Weston’s zone.<\/p>\n