Portland Surprises East Hampton in Boys' Soccer

Portland rallied for five unanswered goals in the second half to upset East Hampton on a cold, wet Thursday to advance to the Class S boys’ soccer tournament semifinals.

For the top-seeded Bellringers, the 5-1 loss was a difficult ending to a very successful season. For the Highlanders, the victory marks the furthest they have advanced in the boys’ soccer tournament.

Portland coach James Stotler called it “A huge win for the program.”

“The team has been talking since the beginning of the season that this was a team we wanted to make history with,” Stotler said. “They’re the first team from Portland to go to the semifinals. I know it means a lot to them.”

The Bellringers, who had defeated the Highlanders two other times this season, had the better of the play in the first half but were unable to increase their lead despite several good scoring chances.

“I’m proud of my kids. Great season,” East Hampton coach Bob Boscarino said. “As far as today’s game, give Portland credit. I thought they played a fantastic game. We had our opportunities early. We didn’t make the most of them. Their goalie made some big plays.”

The goalie was sophomore Noah Maynard, who has been filling in for senior Bryant Tobler. Tobler has been out with a leg injury.

Maynard allowed Ben Bocarino’s goal in the first half, but he and his defense shut down the Bellringers from there.

“Noah stepped into a tough situation when Bryant went down,” Stotler said. “He really is stepping up. He made some great saves in the first half. Overall, between the defense and the keeper, they’ve really stepped up these three games. That’s something that has been a key to our success here going forward and has gotten us to the semifinals.”

Despite the halftime deficit, Stotler liked what he had seen from his team, the No. 9 seed.

“I knew we were getting our chances in the first half and I felt if we just kept going we would at least get that equalizer and then be able to fight from there.”

Whatever momentum East Hampton (17-3-0) had at the half ended on Abner Velasco’s goal at 4:49 into the second half.

At 29:58, the first of three goals by Kamil Niemczyk, a short strike to the left of goalkeeper Austin Tierney, gave the Highlanders a 2-1 lead and it was downhill from there for the Bellringers.

“They put one in and I think we panicked a little bit,” East Hampton senior Adam Guy said. “We brought people up and kudos to Portland, they took advantage of that. They had some good plays, beat our defense a little bit. Things happen. We fought hard to the last minute. Great season for East Hampton and we’ll look to get ‘em next season.”

When Niemczyk scored his second goal on a penalty kick with about 20 minutes remaining the reality that there was an upset in the making was clear.

“He’s really come along here in the state tournament and been a factor for us,” Stotler said of Neimczyk. “I’m happy for him. “He’s a senior. He’s worked hard. He didn’t have the season he had last year and for him to be finishing up this well is a great credit to him and his ability and desire to be successful.”

Portland’s fourth goal, an own goal by East Hampton, probably symbolized best how the second half went for the Bellringers.

Tierney ran up to clear a ball that was approaching the box and drove a low, hard strike that slammed off his own player and headed directly back about 25 yards toward the goal. Tierney had no time to react and the score was 4-1.

“It’s hard to beat about equal a team three times,” Boscarino said. “They caught the momentum, they got the PK and it just kept going.

“I think the missed opportunities early hurt us, and the goalie making the big plays. I think there were so many times we were pounding on the door to get the second one and we didn’t and they got that one opportunity and they made the most of it.”

Stotler had a lot of praise for East Hampton and knew heading into the game that his team would have to contain the Bellringers’ front line of Kenny Steer, Matt Vasquenza and Guy.

“East Hampton’s a great team. We have a lot of respect for them,” Stotler said. “They have a lot of scoring punch with the three guys they have up top with Kenny, Matt and Adam, We knew we had to contain them and that is what our goal was and we were just able to finish our opportunities today and that was definitely a plus for us and we’re obviously excited to be here and keep the season going.”

Boscarino didn’t lose sight of how successful a season it was for his team and that this loss didn’t take away from what they had accomplished.

“The kids won a lot of big games,” he said. “To be 15-1, they had to beat Old Lyme, they had to beat Portland twice. We beat Valley the first time around. You always look at the end games, but when you take the whole course of the year, the kids won a lot of big games.”

Next up for Portland (13-6-0) is Somers (15-3-0) in a semifinal game on Saturday in Middletown.

“I know they want to keep going,” said Stotler, who added that his team has wanted to keep the season going since the tournament began for his 10 seniors. “We have a lot of respect for Somers. We know they’re a good team. We’re just going to keep fighting.”

Stotler, however, wasn’t saying who would be in goal.

“We’ll have to see,” he said. “We’re kind of looking at it as a game-by-game situation.”