While the highlight of the regular season will undoubtedly be the CCC-FCIAC matchup on September 23-24 in Farmington, the men’s soccer landscape is packed with big games from September through November.
In recent years, the trend of teams going out of their conference to play other quality teams has grown and 2022 certainly offers plenty of action on that front.
While those inter-conference games are always exciting and great for state tournament preparation, some of the best games still come from intra-league rivalries.
Here’s a look at 11 intriguing matchups to head out and watch this fall.
Staples in Greenwich
Tuesday, September 13 at Cardinal Stadium, 5 p.m.
For the first time in a while, Kurt Putnam, who has coached Greenwich since 2001, will look across the field at one of the FCIAC’s greatest football rivalries and not see Staples coach Dan Woog, who retired for the season. leaves after 19 seasons as coach. the wreckers.
Woog’s absence may ease tension among the coaching staff, but on the field, teams will likely play their standard physical styles centered around solid defenses.
Not only are both teams once again considered favorites in the FCIAC, but they are also among the top teams in Class LL, where Greenwich reached the final in 2019 and Staples lost in the semi-finals last season.
Hall in Farmington
Tuesday, September 13 at Tunxis Mead Park 6 p.m.
There are a few matchups in the CCC that stand out, but none more so than this one between the last two CIAC Class LL champions.
The teams will meet twice, with the second game on October 6, but this game is only the second of the season and adds to the intrigue.
Hall beat Farmington twice in the regular season last year, including in the second game of the season, but Farmington caught fire late in the year and raced to the Class LL title after defeating Hall in the quarterfinals 2 -1 (5-4). PK).
Glastonbury in Wethersfield
Friday, September 16 at Cottone Field, 6 p.m.
Wethersfield are the defending Class L champions, while Glastonbury (2018 Class LL champions) are rebounding after an up-and-down 8-5-3 season.
Both schools have shown a propensity to remain near the top of the CCC year after year and 2022 should be no different.
As is often the case, this game must be won by defenses. In his title run last year, Wethersfield allowed one goal in the state tournament and that came in a 5-1 win over Fitch in the championship game.
Barlow at Brookfield
Thursday, September 29 at Brookfield Stadium Field, 6 p.m.
Both teams are traditionally at the top of the SWC standings, but in recent years neither has been able to break through and win a championship.
Barlow, who has played in the SWC finals six times since 2012, including 2021, has not won the league crown since 2017. Barlow also won a league title in 2014.
Brookfield last won the league tournament in 2016 and has reached the final three times since 2012, also winning in 201.3 and losing to Barlow in 2012.
With Weston possibly stepping back due to graduation losses, the door could be wide open for one of these two to retake the throne.
Ward in Norwalk
Thursday, October 6 at Warde Grass Field, 6 p.m.
Norwalk crushed Warde in the regular season last year 5-1. Warde returned to the FCIAC semifinals and gave the Bears everything they could before losing 1-0.
The teams have contrasting styles of play, which have made the games entertaining in recent seasons.
Both teams lost a ton of talent to graduate and may have trouble getting on their feet early on, but by the time this game rolls around, they should have an understanding of who they are as a team.
Fitch at Ellington
Friday, October 7 at Ellington Soccer Field, 4 p.m.
It’s not often that two state finalists from different classes and different conferences meet in the next regular season, but that’s exactly what the programming gods have given us.
Fitch lost in the CIAC Class L final 4-1 to Wethersfield, and Ellington lost in the Class M final to Stonington (3-1).
The teams also played last regular season with Fitch winning 2-0 in a game played at Stonington.
Notre Dame-West Haven in Cheshire
Friday, October 7 at Cheshire Main Game Field, 6 p.m.
Cheshire eliminated NDWH from the SCC tournament semi-final last year, winning 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Cheshire would lose the SCC final to Xavier 1-0 in overtime, but then made it to the CIAC Class LL championship game where they lost 3-2 to Farmington.
This will be the second meeting of the year between the two rivals with the first meeting on September 13 in West Haven.
Weston at Bethel
Tuesday, October 11 at Bethel Turf Soccer Field, 4 p.m.
Weston beat Bethel 2-1 in the semifinal of last year’s SWC tournament en route to winning the league championship.
Excluding the truncated 2020 season, Weston won the SWC tournament in 2018 and 2021, losing in the 2019 final to Pomperaug.
Bethel also lost 1-0 in the regular season to Weston, but played them as well as any opponent last season.
This year, the script could change with Bethel bringing back the core of their team while Weston suffers heavy graduation losses.
Canton at Old Saybrook
Friday, October 14 at Old Saybrook Soccer Field, 4:15 p.m.
This is a rematch of last season’s CIAC Class S championship game in which Old Saybrook won 4-1 in overtime for their third consecutive Class L title.
Despite playing in different conferences, the teams met last year in the regular season with Old Saybrook winning 3-2.
The trend of going out of the conference in search of quality games is growing and this matchup is a shining example of how great that concept can be.
Stonington-in-Ledyard
Friday, October 14 at Pat Cannamela Field, 6 p.m.
This game has been a date to watch at the ECC for the past several seasons with GameTimect Stonington’s MVP Sam Montalto and Ledyard’s First Team All-State Nick Washington and Second Team All-State Daimon Pollard attracting plenty of eyeballs.
Those superstars have moved on, but the rivalry remains one of the best in the ECC and both teams should once again contend for the league title.
Santa Cruz in Naugatuck
Wednesday, October 19 at Veterans Field, 6 p.m.
Class S Holy Cross beat Class LL Naugatuck twice last season, first 4-1 in the final game of the year to complete an undefeated regular season and then 4-0 in the NVL semifinals.
The Crusaders were unbeaten last year (14-0-2) before losing 2-0 in the CIAC Class S quarterfinals to Canton.
While one is in the largest CIAC class and the other in the smallest, the two teams have come and gone in the NVL in recent seasons as the teams to beat.
Woodland and Watertown might have something to say about that this season, but expect both the Crusaders and Greyhounds to be the teams to beat again in November.
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