CT Championships: Notre Dame-West Haven Falls Short In Boys Soccer

HARTFORD, CT — A pedestrian Class L CIAC boys state soccer championship game evolved into a thrilling, back-and-forth victory for the East Lyme High School Vikings Saturday in Hartford.

A scoreless draw at the half turned into a wild, see-saw affair with East Lyme defeating Notre Dame-West Haven, 3-2, on senior Finian Gates' winning goal to secure the Vikings' second state title and first since 2002.

East Lyme Soccer Coach Paul Christenson, in his 36th year, was there for that championship, though he said he hopes it doesn't take that long to win another.

As for Saturday, Christenson said he wasn't surprised at his team's resilience, which twice saw one-goal leads disappear.

The third time, though, proved to be the charm, with senior Robert Stoddard earning a brace and the game's most valuable player award in his final high school contest.

"They've been doing that all year," an emotionally exhausted Christenson said after postgame celebrations, which included an icy Gatorade bath on a brisk, chilly day. "They've always fought for every game."

Christenson also credited the play of Notre Dame-West Haven and their coach, Rodrigo Silva.

The match got off to a slow start, with chances few for both sides and play, largely, confined to the midfield, as well-organized defenses packed in and attacks were regularly stifled in each side's third.

Chances ticked up slightly for both, with third-seed East Lyme pushing the ball in eighth-seeded Notre Dame's half regularly and a Green Knights' long-range shot falling short.

Ultimately, the 0-0 halftime score came as no surprise given the style of play.

Christenson said the slow start was a mix of championship nerves, windy playing conditions and adjusting to the artificial turf field of Trinity Health Stadium.

"I think it was a combination of nerves and they were playing each other out," Christenson said.

The first major opportunity was five minutes into the second half when Notre Dame sophomore Giancarlo Esquivel's free-kick just outside the box in East Lyme's end appeared destined to dent the net in the upper right-hand corner.

But the screaming kick was tapped over the crossbar by Viking goalkeeper Benjamin Johnson, a senior, who preserved the scoreless match.

With play bogged down, it took a set piece to finally break the draw.

East Lyme broke through with 32 minutes left as senior Robert Stoddard headed in a corner kick by junior Ryan Wargo, ending the stalemate and putting the Vikes up 1-0.

With 30 minutes left, a free kick by Notre Dame's Esquivel caught the wind and his long crossing pass turned into a shot and, again, was destined for the net.

But Johnson leaped and made an impressive save, tapping the ball over the goal in a case of soccer deja vu, keeping his team's 1-0 lead.

That lead ceased to exist with 26 minutes left, when Notre Dame senior Diego Chavez headed in a beautiful crossing pass from sophomore Milton Jimenez into the left side of the goal, tying the match 1-1.

Then it was game on as both sides pushed forward in a desperate attempt at a championship-winning goal.

With about 20 minutes left, East Lyme's Stoddard was pushed down in the Green Knight box on a free kick scramble, but no penalty kick was called, much to the chagrin of the Vikings.

The no-call seemed to motivate the Vikings, who relentlessly pushed into Notre Dame's half afterward and that effort paid off.

With about 15 minutes left, Stoddard took a pass from senior Dominik Stefanski in the box and maneuvered his way in front of the goal, slamming home a goal and putting the Vikings up 2-1.

But just as East Lyme was seemingly en route to the championship, the Green Knights responded as they threw bodies at East Lyme's goa.

With 11 minutes, 33 seconds to go, Notre Dame evened the score, 2-2, when junior Evan Fletcher won a contested pass from Esquivel and slowly pushed the ball by a charging Johnson in front of the net.

As extra time loomed, the title was there for the taking. And East Lyme grabbed it.

With about 4 minutes left, the championship-winning goal was scored by Gates, who pushed home the winner for the Vikings following a defensive breakdown by the Green Knights, putting East Lyme ahead, 3-2.

East Lyme's coach said it was a perfect culmination for what was, in his opinion, the best-ever Viking squad.

After all, Christenson said, the players have known each other since they were on elementary school, playing youth soccer in town.

"These kids have played together since they were 5 or 6," he said. "I'm so proud of their ability to finish this off."

Going into the 2023 title game, the Vikings had a relatively dominant regular season, going 14-1 and only drawing once.

Notre Dame-West Haven was nearly up to par, going 10-1 with three draws en route to the CIAC playoffs.