Guardians Soccer Gaining Momentum

GHS soccer captains, from left, Timothy McGuire, Patrick Butler, and Collin Martin are leading the way for a group of Guardians that has found its rhythm as the second half of the season is getting underway.   

The boys soccer team at Glastonbury High School is starting to click on all cylinders, showcasing timely offense and another strong defensive effort in a 3-0 win over Northwest Catholic on Sept. 26. 

Senior captain Collin Martin said the team’s “mentality” is vastly different from the team’s season opener, a 1-0 loss to Hall on Sept. 12.  

“We've come ready to play.” added Martin, who is captaining the team with juniors Timothy McGuire and Patrick Butler.
“Against Hall we were timid, but we’ve sharpened things up all the way around and we’ve come together as a family.”

The home victory over Northwest Catholic marked the fourth time in the last five games that Glastonbury scored multiple goals. 

With just over two minutes to play in the first half, junior Griffin Szakiewicz broke the seal when he finished off a perfectly-placed corner kick from junior Shane Keenan.

Keenan sent a line drive from the left corner, which Szakiewicz headed into the back of the net.

Derrick Li added an issuance goal in the 67th minute off a defection. Li found Nicholas Lacaprucia with a pass in front of the net and Lacaprucia shot was swatted away by Northwest goalie Griffin Krupp before Li booted in the ricochet. 

In the 76th minute, Nicholas Daigle polished off the scoring after receiving a great lead pass from Jack Shaheen. 
McGuire said the offense has been more aggressive after being held scoreless in the opener. 

”We are just putting together some more passes and having more of a junkyard dog mentality,” added McGuire. “We’re hungry, we have a desire to score and put the ball in the back of the net. We’ve worked on that in practice a lot and done a bunch of finishing drills.”

It was also another outstanding effort from the Guardians defense, which held a second straight opponent scoreless, also blanking Rocky Hill 2-0 three days earlier. 

Butler, who in his second year protecting the net, said discipline between the players on the backend has been the key. 
“We’ve figured out our shape and where we want to push the offense,” added Butler. “Mainly it’s just being connected with communication, that’s been the biggest thing.”   

Last Thursday, the Guardians made it three in a row with a third straight shutout, blanking Farmington 3-0.

Following the shaky start, McGuire said the captains have worked hard to steady the ship, saying, “The guys look up to us and we have to be the face there for them in tough times.” 

Coming into the week, the Guardians have a record of 4-2-1 and welcome Hall to GHS for a pivotal conference rematch today (Thursday, Sept. 28) at 4 p.m.

​Martin said the game against Hall is another chance to show how much the team has improved over the last month and for the players to “keep connecting as a family.”