Watertown Boys Head Over Heels Against Naugatuck

Over the past 15 years Naugatuck has been known as Titletown USA. The Naugatuck boys soccer team has won 11 NVL title in 15 seasons and came into Wednesday's NVL Championship showdown with Watertown having won four straight championships.

But Watertown had an agenda of its own. During the regular season these two teams hooked up in a classic. Naugatuck relinquished a four goal lead and had to settle for a 5-5 tie and that made the season for the Indians.

Watertown used a superior height advantage knocking in two goals inside the box and come away with a 2-1 win ending the Greyhounds four year reign.

"They had a height advantage on us and we played too deep in the box," said Naugatuck head coach Art Nunes. "We feel we are going to be playing for an NVL championship every year and this season was no different."

"Give Watertown credit; they played a great game and they have had a very good season," Nunes said.

Both teams went back and forth during a scoreless first half with the Indians Dave Hughes making seven saves and the Greyhounds Dan Bronko making two saves.

Andres Jimenez, Jack DeOliviera and Riker Mitchell stood tall on defense for the Greyhounds but it was the height advantage of the Indians John Good, Kylee Lecchi and Ryan Amadeo that was the key to Watertowns victory.

At the outset of the second half Watertown cashed in with Lecchi sending a header to the far post that eluded Bronko for a quick 1-0 advantage at 37:13 to go.

That hardly slowed down the Greyhounds as they tried to counter with seed and athleticism. Luis Carvallho and Marcos Soares flew down the sidelines pushing each possession into the box. Richard Mitchell and Adam Branco controlled midfield keeping the possessions in the Watertown end.

That allowed Tiago Martins and Nolan Kinne to roam in the passing lanes to create opportunities on goal. Naugatuck held a distinctive 16-6 margin with shots on goal but it took them till 20:25 left in the game to finally catch Watertown.

Soares was taken down from behind in the box and Martins sent the penalty kick past the diving keeper to tie the game at 1-1. Naugatuck had gained the momentum but shots were wide and passes in the lane were just out in front.

Then at 11:55 to go Connor Fenn sent an inbounds pass to Lecchi inside the box and the shot ripped past Bronko for a 2-1 Watertown lead.

"Hopefully we will take something away from this and get refocused for the state tournament coming up," added Nunes.