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Boys Soccer Preview: Greenwich, Stamford, Trumbull Seem Headed For 3-Team Battle
Dave Ruden
08.29.2024
Trumbull is the defending FCIAC boys soccer champion, Stamford advanced to both the league and Class LL finals and Greenwich was a twin semifinalist. The three appear ready to rule the FCIAC again in what right now seems like a most compelling race. Stamford received one more vote than Greenwich to finish first among league coaches that responded. No one will be surprised if any of the three ends up on top.
The Favorites
Greenwich. The Cardinals won the regular-season title a year ago, then dropped a wild 5-4 FCIAC semifinal contest to eventual champion Trumbull and lost to Stamford in the Class LL semifinals. Greenwich is the classic always-on-the-reload program and this year is no different. Matt Maloney is back in the role of catalyst and Pietro Carvalho will also be vital to the team’s success. It has been a long time since the Cardinals weren’t a factor in the playoff race.
Stamford. It was a dream season for the Black Knights, although one that ended without a title. Still, it was a sizable accomplishment to reach both tournament finals, the FCIAC — a sensational 3-2 overtime loss to Trumbull — for the first time since 1997. A 1-0 loss to Hall denied the Black Knights their first state title since 1949. Both crowns are again in play for them this year. Twenty-one goal scorer Noel Vargas is among the state’s most dangerous players. Tyler Szemplinski is a top midfielder. The loss of star goalkeeper Cristian Vitti is considerable.
The Contender
Trumbull. The Eagles, winners of two straight league titles and four of the last five in non-Covid seasons, really should be considered favorite 1A. They were hit hard by graduation losses, most notably do-it-all midfielder Owen Bull, but return a strong nucleus, with Connor Hughes in goal, Gavin Racette on defense, David Onianwa at midfield and Mateus Almeida on attack. The starting lineup is comprised almost solely of upperclassmen.
The Sleepers
Fairfield Ludlowe. The Falcons are a popular top-five pick among league coaches. Charlie Jones returns as one of the state’s top scoring threats. There is a mix of senior leadership and promising newcomers.
Staples. Last year’s regular season champions, the Wreckers were hit hard by graduation losses. They will build around veteran starter Zach Gorin at midfield. Zach Beebe and Cormac Mulvey form a strong one-two punch on defense. It will take a collaborative to replace Avery Mueller’s scoring punch.
10 Players To Watch
- Dalton Bury, Norwalk
- Pietro Carvalho, Greenwich
- Zach Gorin, Staples
- Connor Hughes, Trumbull
- Charlie Jones, Fairfield Ludlowe
- Matt Maloney, Greenwich
- David Onianwa, Trumbull
- Tyler Szemplinski, Stamford
- Noel Vargas, Stamford
- Christian Yuqui, Danbury
Lineups
Danbury: D: Gabriel Lopes; M: Christian Yuqui; F: Kayky Schletz; Murillo Lima.
Darien: D: Sebastian Gardner, Luke Fox, Thomas Graziosa, Max Comey, Jake Girlamo, Luca de
Benneditis; M/F: Parker Skelton, Will Duarte, Miles Lefkowitz, Bennett
Higgins, Cameron Moyers, Max Grandis, Jack Flynn, Briggs Davies.
Fairfield Ludlowe: Emiliano Carrera, Jacob Cohen, Luke DiLillo, Charles Jones, Kenneth Luczaj, Ian Moore, Cooper Sicre, Sean Malecky, Justin Manatch, Chase McCormack, Chase Mehta, William Quino, Noah Rodriguez, Brendan Walsh.
Fairfield Warde: Meyer Stransky, Gabriel Tiene, Lucas Harlacker, Kennedy Mariano.
Greenwich: Pietro Carvalho, Matt Maloney, Nick Hvatum, Miguel Leon, Micah Kim, Rodrigo Lopez, Gui Rizzo, Henry Davis, Silas Cook.
Brien McMahon: G: Massimo Ruffo, Joel Hernandez, Ryan Rojas, Minor Cascante; D: David Romero, William Chang, Ben Kammerer, Rosbin Perez, Michael Fosina, Alejandro Escamilla, Gabriel Veliz, Patrick Byrne, Dreiss Bennani; MF: Kevin Segura, Aiden Alvaran, Andres Castillo, Axl Ponce, Edwin Flores, Denijer Lainez, Kenny Jimenez; F: JD Rich, Steven Ruiz, Matthew Chen, Elihud Castillero, Nick Collins Sainthyle, Santi Carmona, Baxter Colbath, Derrick Wiggins.
Ridgefield: Brandon Gmelin, Roman Holian, Theodore Janzon, Liam Kristan, Saimon Moncayo, Dylan Penn.
St. Joseph: G: Mariano Malozzi; D: Jamie McKenna, Marcelo Rosa; M: Zane Guglielomoni, Cruz Guglielmoni, Rhys Ingram; F: Lucas Auten, Josiah Thompson.
Stamford: G: Marc Zampino; D: Adrian Hernandez, Elian Ochoa, Mike Daniele, Owen Fedeli, Jayden Freeman; M: Tyler Szemplinski, Andy Garcia, Rory O’Halloran, Felipe Stefanzuk, Zach Shapiro; F: Noel Vargas, Joandry Lopez, Jared Relayze.
Staples: D: Zach Beebe, Cormac Mulvey; M: Zach Gorin; F: Sam Rossoni, Emmett Nivuad, Jonny Costello.
Trumbull: G: Connor Hughes; D: Gavin Racette, Nate Demarrais, D/M: Tom DiCorpo, Nate Helminger; M: David Onianwa, Marcelo Baptista, Luca Solustri; F: Mateus Almeida, Christian Moura, Jaden Lima.
Westhill: Jonathan Chavez, Adiel Crosby, Philip Conte, Derek DiBenedetto, Menno Dijkema, Diego Hernandez, Marty Ivanov, Kevin Lopez, Alex Luszcz, Aaryan Marathe, Ian Martinez, Carlos Mendez, Jeancarlo Muralles, Yofre Soto Rochabrjn, Anton Strezoski, Keshav Khanna, Anderson Perez, Eduardo Quintana Gonzalez.
(Teams missing did not reply to REPEATED requests for information)
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