Daniel Hand Moves Up In Boys Soccer Coaches Poll

MADISON, CT — An unbeaten regular season propelled the Xavier High School boys soccer team into the pole position in the latest weekly poll of Connecticut high school coaches.

The Falcons finished the schedule with a 15-0-1 record, outscoring opponents 49-8. They garnered 11 of 14 first-place votes in Classes LL/L to move up a spot from last week. Hall moved into second position, while Fairfield Prep was third.

Daniel Hand High School collected a first-place vote while moving up a spot in the rankings, placing eighth in the most recent balloting.

Undefeated Ellington continues to lead Classes M/S, collecting 12 of 13 first-place votes. The Knights are followed by Lewis Mills and Stonington.

Here are the top 10 in each division, with first-place votes and last week's ranking in parentheses, as well as all other schools receiving votes.

LL/L

1. Xavier (11) (lw: 2)
2. Hall (2) (lw: 3)
3. Fairfield Prep (lw: 1)
4. Farmington (lw: 4)
5. South Windsor (lw: 6)
6. Glastonbury (lw: 8)
7. Trumbull (lw: NR)
8. Daniel Hand (1) (lw: 9)
9. Danbury (lw: 5)
10. Cheshire (lw: 7)

Also receiving votes: Weston, Avon, Wethersfield, Staples.

Coaches voting: Arnie Jandreau, Lyman Hall; Dave Zlatin, Avon; Dan Woog, Staples; Chris Laughton, Norwalk; Mark Landers, Glastonbury; Dave Yanosy, Southington; Jim Lewicki, Wilton; Joe Mancini, Pomperuag; Art Branco, Cheshire; Tony Fernandes, Bethel; Paul Winstanley, Joel Barlow; Zeke Seguro, Hall;Vic Santos, Independent; John Blomstrann, E.O. Smith.

M/S

1. Ellington (12) (lw: 1)
2. Lewis Mills (1) (lw: 2)
3. Stonington (lw: 5)
4. Granby Memorial (lw: 4)
5. Watertown (lw: 3)
6. Litchfield (lw: 6)
7. Lyman Memorial (lw: 8)
8. Brookfield (lw: 7)
9. Somers (lw: 9)
10. (tie) Morgan (lw: NR)
    10. (tie) Tolland (lw: NR)

Also receiving votes: Windham, St. Paul, Old Saybrook, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Valley Regional, Ledyard, Montville.

Coaches voting: Colin Delaney, Montville; Rob Andrulis, Litchfield; Dave Emery, Granby Memorial; Tim Brown, Plainville; Roy Gurnon, Ellington; Andy Campbell, Northwest Regional; Sam Barnes, Old Saybrook; Ben Kulas, Lewis Mills; Ryan Fabry, Lyman Memorial; Vic Santos, Independent; Gianni Perugini, Sacred Heart; Dave Lavery, Brookfield; Vito Caligiuri, Watertown; Paul deCastro, Stonington.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen

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