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Whammond’s goal lifts Jesuits

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Fairfield Prep v. Hamden boys soccer game in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Fairfield Prep v. Hamden boys soccer game in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media

FAIRFIELD — Alex Whammond was not going to be denied.

Time and time again, over the course of the game against Hamden, Whammond had just about every kind of scoring chance you could imagine … a header from the middle of the box that went wide left … a drive to the goal, only to have the keeper slide out and steal the ball away … another header, this one right into the keeper’s chest.

Was Whammond frustrated? Yes. But that only made him more determined.

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And finally, with just 2:04 to play in regulation, Whammond found a seam in the Green Dragons defense and he raced down the right side, saw his chance and buried a shot to give Fairfield Prep a 1-0 victory over Hamden that ended the Jesuits regular season on a winning note.

“I knew I owed it to the team to get that last one in,” Whammond said. “I missed some opportunities earlier. I saw that the defender took a bad touch around midfield, I knew the clock was ticking so I decided to just give it all I got and luckily I got in behind (the defense) and I saw the right post open and I was able to curve it in.”

The victory gave Prep a 14-1-1 regular season record and placed them in position to capture the SCC Hammonsett Division title — depending on the outcome of Wednesday’s Shelton-West Haven matchup. Worst case, the Jesuits will be one of the four wild-card teams that start tournament play on Saturday.

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“It’s been a long year, it’s been a good year. Honestly, I think the kids are a little bit tired,” Prep coach Ryan Lyddy said. “Soccer is a grueling sport, along with the academics that they have, it’s tough. I’m just glad this first season’s over. We’re going to regroup this week, get some kids rested, get their minds away from soccer and start season two.”

After rolling through its opening 13 games — all victories — Prep stumbled somewhat down the stretch. A scoreless tie with Sheehan, a 2-1 loss to Shelton and for 78 minutes Monday against Hamden, a big zero on the scoreboard. Were opponents finally finding the chinks in the Jesuits’ armor. Maybe.

“These last three games, I don’t think we’ve been the same,” Whammond said. “Teams are adapting to our style of play and I think we need to get some new looks. … It’s not the same as it was in the beginning of the season but hopefully, with this week of practice, we’ll get a good week in and get a win on Saturday.”

After a 3-1 loss to the Jesuits back on Sept. 27, the Green Dragons certainly looked like they had adapted to the Prep style of play, determined to play a defensive game and wait for an offensive opportunity — if one presented itself. If not, it seemed like Hamden was prepared to play for the tie.

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But along those defensive lines, the Green Dragons were allegedly guilty of numerous fouls, much to the consternation of the Hamden coaching staff, particularly head coach Ralph Romano, who could not hide his displeasure with the officials.

“I think we could have come out with the win, to be honest,” Romano said. “We missed an open net … the refs really hosed us today. I don’t want to say anything about their beliefs or whatever, but what they did was awful, absolutely awful. I mean, every call was going for Prep and we were getting absolutely no calls. They gave us (the coaching staff) two yellow cards in the first 10 minutes because we were yelling out to our kids, which we have every right to do and the ref is calling my players ‘idiots’ as he is running by. As far as I’m concerned, the whole result was awful.”

In the first half, the Jesuits had no less than a half dozen solid scoring chances. Whammond, unmarked in the middle of the box, headed a cross wide in the opening five minutes and that was followed by chances from Lucas Ojea Quintana, Andrew Chiota and Gavin Neumeyer — all that were saved by Green Dragons keeper Zachary Lane.

The second half was much like the first as the Jesuits had solid opportunities but were unable to get a clear shot on goal as Hamden was content to drop five and six men back in front of Lane and play the ball away.

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Until Whammond found that seam in the defense with two minutes to play and buried the shot.

“I think we’re still in that 13-0 groove,” Lyddy said. “I think the opportunities we have … we’re just not finishing them. We all know they need a break, they need a rest, they need to clear their heads. Will you see a different Prep team when the SCC tournament starts? I guarantee it.”

FAIRFIELD PREP 1, HAMDEN 0

HAMDEN 0 0—0

PREP 0 1—1

Goals: FP—Alex Whammond. Shots: FP—27; H—6. Saves: FP—Ryan Cowles (6); H—Zachary Lane (26).

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