Glastonbury Advances to Class LL Boys Soccer Finals

NEW BRITAIN, CT — Over the past dozen years, the boys soccer programs at Glastonbury and Farmington high schools have proven themselves to be among the most successful in Connecticut, with a rivalry that has developed between the two that is nearly unparalleled.

Since 2005, Glastonbury has won four state championships, with two of those title match victories coming over Farmington in 2014 and 2005. Similarly, the Indians have five state titles in that span, knocking off the Tomahawks for the championship in 2008.

The two powerhouses met again Monday at Willow Brook Park, only this time, the stakes were a bit different. It was a semifinal match in the Class LL state tournament; the winner goes to the finals, the loser goes home.

In typical Glastonbury-Farmington fashion, the game was nip and tuck all the way. Ultimately, an early goal by the Tomahawks' Sebastian Sanzaro held up, as Glastonbury prevailed 1-0 to advance to this weekend's state championship match.

Glastonbury, the No. 2 seed, will face top-seeded Naugatuck Saturday, at a site and time to be announced.

"Walking in here against the defending Class LL state champs, we almost had to look at it like a Game 7," Glastonbury coach Mark Landers said. "This was going to be the game and the opportunity to move on, so that was a little motivation for us tonight, which was key. We were hungry for sure."

Sanzaro did what he does best just under nine minutes into the contest, taking advantage of the slightest lapse by a defender. He beat his man in the box and booted the ball into the low right corner of the net to provide the Tomahawks the only goal they would need.

"With two great teams like this, you're gong to get minimal opportunities and you've got to cash in when someone makes a mistake," Glastonbury coach Mark Landers said. "Sebby's had quite a high school soccer career, and he's a pleasure to watch."

Farmington saw its bid to repeat as LL champions go by the wayside, but not without lack of opportunities. The Indians had consecutive corner kicks with just under five minutes remaining, but were unable to convert either chance.

"We knew the end of our season could be dramatic - either a dramatic victory or a dramatic loss," Farmington coach Steve Waters said. "The seniors really kept the synergy of this team stable. You go through rough times in the season, you go through different times in the season, but those guys were great role models for everybody for the years to come."

Photo credit: Tim Jensen