Huntington Herald

Gaels bounced by Prep (Updated)

Written by Mike Suppe, Assistant Sports Editor
Friday, 04 November 2011 13:01

The seventh-seeded Shelton High boys soccer team was eliminated from the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament by second-seeded Fairfield Prep, 2-0, on Saturday morning at a frigid Alumni Field.

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Steve Tortora scored a goal in the fifth minute off of a Tim Frassetto free kick and Austin Sims headed home Kieran Bracken’s cross in the second half to provide the margin for the Jesuits (10-0-7).

Coach Joe D’Auria’s Gaels dropped their fourth straight match and were shut out for a third consecutive time, following a 1-0 defeat to Prep at Finn Stadium back on Oct. 24 and a 4-0 setback to Xavier High in Middletown on Oct. 26.

Prep advanced to Notre of West Haven in the SCC final today.

Goals have been hard to come by for Shelton (8-6-3) over its six-match winless streak, as the Gaels have scored just two markers, while conceding 14.

Shawn Niedzwieki scored Shelton’s last goal in the 76th minute of its 6-1 loss to Cheshire High on Oct. 22. Since then, the Gaels have gone over 240 minutes without finding the back of the net.

Shelton registered three shots on target against Prep, but the Jesuits carried the play for the most part, notching 10 shots.

Tyler Howland made eight saves for the Gaels, while counterpart Will Steiner had three for Prep.

After Tortora staked the Jesuits to the early 1-0 edge, sophomore Matt Manzo shook free along the right side and won the Gaels a corner kick in the eighth minute.

Prep’s backline of Frassetto, Darragh Kelly, Tim Hagan and Joe Cullina cleared the ball away to safety to preserve the lead.

Stephen Arena launched a shot for the Gaels in the 18th minute, but Steiner made a diving save.

With 15 minutes remaining in the first half, Jacob Teixeira lined up a free kick with Shelton looking for the equalizer.

The ball found Matt Brouillette at the back post, but the sophomore’s shot was wide.

Mike Matera, who scored on a penalty kick in Prep’s earlier 1-0 triumph over the Gaels, fired a shot off of the crossbar in the 39th minute, while Jack Grella dragged his shot on the rebound attempt wide left.

A shot by Sims to start off the second half sailed high on the right side, before Bracken slid a pass to Tortora along the right side.

Howland got a glove on Tortora’s shot and Teixera cleared the rebound back toward midfield.

Sims doubled the Jesuit margin moments later, rising up over the Gael defense to drive a header into the top right corner of the net, with Bracken providing a text-book cross.

Karl Schif and Guiterez DeSouza applied pressure for Shelton as it pushed forward looking to get on the scoreboard.

But, the Jesuits used a deep bench and several substitutions to stay ahead, with Ryan Orvis and Nick O’Kane nearly adding to Prep’s lead.

Shelton will now prepare for the Class LL state tournament, which is set to begin on Nov. 8. The pairings will be announced on Sunday afternoon, with brackets available at casciac.org.

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