Simsbury, Glastonbury boys soccer rivalry renewed

It seems incredible that the Simsbury and Glastonbury boys soccer teams no longer play each other during the regular season. The fiercest rivalry in the Central Connecticut Conference for nearly 25 years was eliminated with realignment and expansion that began two years ago.

The two perennial state powers hadn't faced off with each other in two seasons before they met on a practice pitch this past week for a preseason scrimmage after meeting at least twice a season since the CCC's inception in 1984. Previously, both were in the CCC West. Simsbury is still in the West while Glastonbury moved to the North.

"It's unfortunate because it was always two big-time games you could always count on," said Glastonbury head coach Mark Landers, who took over in 1999. "Losing them twice a year takes a lot of what we had for 25 years or so. We would end up playing three times sometimes (if the teams met in a tournament), which was great. Losing Simsbury as a big-time rival is tough."

Simsbury coach Ed Lynch, entering his 23rd season agrees.

"Two strong programs always will be competitive, (the matchup) certainly was competitive. It was a tradition for a long period of time. It would be nice to play a non-divisional game (against Glastonbury)."

Glastonbury, which finished 18-1-1 last season and lost to eventual Class LL champion Staples (Westport) in the tournament semifinals, took control early Wednesday with sharp, crisp passing, keeping the ball in Simsbury's half for most of the first 25 minutes. But the Tomahawks found it difficult when it got into the box as Simsbury's defense proved resilient with Blake Mercer at sweeper.

Things started to turn somewhat near the end of the half with the match still scoreless. But then they changed dramatically in the second half.

"First half we tried to fight the wind and we lost a lot of energy," Lynch said. "I told them at halftime, poise and patience. Now you've got the wind in the second half, you've got to distribute the ball. Once in a while put it in the air. You've got to use the triangles, you've got to be fit. You've got to go to open space. Movement without the ball is most important. As you can see, we dominated the second half."

About 25 minutes in, Simsbury (9-5-5 last season) scored off a long ball up the middle of the field that Merritt Gasho ran down and converted into a goal with a point-blank shot. In less than three minutes, the Trojans had scored again, this time off a direct kick when Mercer put the ball on the ground for Josh Holihan, who then placed it into the left corner of the net.

Glastonbury would score late but that's how it ended, 2-1 for Simsbury.

"Right now, we're playing in spurts," Landers said. "There are minutes when we look real good and then there are minutes we start feeling that we're looking real good and then we stop playing. That was the result today.

"Unfortunately, it looks so good at times that our guys get in a comfort zone and they think they're going to play the rest of the game that way and stop working. Then we gave up a goal and we put our heads down and we give up another goal within three minutes. That's a result of attitudes and mental preparation."

Landers said he'll be looking to his captains Troy Lamagna, Eric Crevoissrat and Ryan Pajor to help iron things out for a squad that returns 17 seniors.

"We have to figure out our attacking in the final third," Landers said. "If we can bottle those first 20, 25 minutes we'll be a pretty good team."

PARENT EDUCATION
This preseason the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference is putting a new tool into the hands of coaches to try and educate parents about their role in supporting their children as student-athletes.

Along with the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, the department of Continuing Education has produced a DVD called "Parenting Your Student-Athlete" which coaches can show to parents at their annual preseason meetings.

Produced, written and directed by Dennis Deninger of Deninger Media from a concept developed by CAAD executive director Fred Balsamo, the video makes use of coaches and athletic directors to play parents in a number of different scenarios, illustrating problems coaches often encounter with parents. Suzy Kolber and Mike Golic of ESPN supply a professional, polished narration, stressing supporting your child, making if fun and keeping things in perspective.

Some of the scenes seem basic and somewhat simplistic but they all ring true. If you've ever been a neutral observer at a high school athletic contest sitting on either teams' side of a field or court, you probably have heard continual razzing of officials, loud second-guessing of coaches — even incredibly, texting coaches during games — and boisterous parents criticizing their own kids during a game.

The video also advises parents to use the communication triangle, in which a parent should first go through their child before confronting a coach with issues of playing time or strategy. A parent will probably find out more about the situation using that avenue.

LOOKING AHEAD
* In boys soccer, defending Class LL champion Staples (Westport), 22-2-0 last season, and midfielder Brendan Lesch open with Warde (Fairfield) (6-7-5) Tuesday and Trumbull (12-5-1) Thursday, the likely more difficult test.

* Simsbury is host to always tough Wethersfield (8-6-3) and coach Robert Jachym in the opener for both Tuesday. Blake Mercer gives the Trojans speed and skill from the defensive line to the front.

* A traditional night opener as Glastonbury, which returns a lot but is looking to gel, travels to rival Farmington (12-1-4), led by midfielder Kevin Michalak.

* In girls soccer, defending Class M co-champion Suffield (West Suffield) (18-0-2), which appears loaded with talent including forward Amy Pasquariello (21 goals last season), opens with East Granby (9-8) Tuesday and Ellington (8-8-2) Thursday.

* High scoring Glastonbury (18-1-1), an LL runner-up, gets a difficult opponent in its opener with Hall (West Hartford) (12-3-2) in a CCC interdivision matchup.

* Barlow (Redding) (12-4-1), a leading contender in the SWC, opens with Immaculate (Danbury) (10-3-5) Tuesday and Brookfield (7-7-4) Thursday.

Paul Rosano, the former assistant sport editor of The Hartford Courant and sports editor of The New Haven Register, covers Connecticut for MaxPreps.com. He may be reached at pjrosano@cox.net.