Farmington Claims 13th State Boys Soccer Crown With 3-2 Victory

HARTFORD, CT — After two previous title games earlier Saturday had ended in scoreless ties and co-champions declared, Farmington and Cheshire were determined to not have the Class LL boys soccer final wind up with a similar result. In a 17-minute stretch of the first half, the River Hawks and Rams combined for four goals, two for each side, sending them into intermission at a 2-2 deadlock.

Near the midpoint of the second half, Farmington's Matthew Cence dribbled up the right side of the field, made an incredible quick move to take two Cheshire defenders out of the play, then with his left foot, booted a goal into the top left corner of the net to give the River Hawks a 3-2 lead - a lead they held until the final buzzer to provide the school its 13th boys soccer state championship overall, and first since 2016.

Longtime coach Steve Waters, who headed the program from 1983 to 2018 and won nine state titles, was in attendance at Dillon Stadium. On Sunday, he shoots for another championship, guiding Old Saybrook into the Class final against Canton.

"Coach Waters, Coach [Chris] Garahan and before that, Coach [Jack] Casper set up a program of excellence," current head coach Nick Boorman said. "It's always been a players-first program, and I wanted to continue that."

Cheshire got on the board first just over six minutes into the contest on a goal by Murphy Malone, assisted by Marcello Pannone. Caden Gallagher knotted it for Farmington just 65 seconds later, and Cence netted his first of the game with 21:12 remaining in the half to give the River Hawks their first lead.

Malone tallied his second score of the contest five minutes later, tying the score at 2 and setting the stage for Cence's second-half dramatics.

"These guys have high character, integrity and team unity," Boorman said. "They are what Farmington soccer is all about. I couldn't be more proud of them."

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