By Michael Letendre
In an exciting CCC interdivisional encounter, the Bristol Eastern boys soccer team ramped up an impressive 1-0 victory over Wethersfield on Wednesday night from Alumni Field in Bristol.
The Eagles, who entered the showdown with only one blemish on their record, fell to 7-2-4 overall while the Lancers improved to a stellar 8-4-1 with some huge matches on tap over the next week or so.
The contest was a make-up game from an early September rainout.
The Kingstreeters jumped on Wethersfield early, moving the ball quickly with crisp passing.
At 33:36 of the first half, one such combination brought the game’s only goal – meaning pay window time for the Lancers.
Veteran Rocco Barbino took a Landon Gawel clearance and gave Liam Sanchez-Barreto a through ball that beat the Wethersfield flat back four.
Sanchez broke in on goal and lofted a ball over Wethersfield keeper Nathan Morris into the upper right corner of the net for the game’s only score.
“Unlike some of our previous games, we dominated early and got the lead,” said Eastern coach Bill Sweet. “It was a battle throughout, though, as Wethersfield overall had much of the play in the center of the field. Our defense kept them from getting good looks at the goal, except for a few free kicks, and Peyton Cummings, in goal, was sharp.”
Cummings tallied eight saves over another supreme effort.
Counterpart Morris nabbed five – letting just one ball get by him that day.
While Wethersfield had more possession over second half play, it was the Lancers who just missed padding their lead.
Goal-scoring machine Eddie Ansah had a shot just go by the post and Matt Cabrera sent a hard shot that rang the crossbar but bounced out to keep things a one possession game.
However, in the end, one goal was enough.
On tap
Eastern travels to Southington on Tuesday (4:45 p.m.) for a CCC interdivisional bout against the Knights.
The locals close the regular season hosting Bristol Central at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 in what should be a tremendous night of soccer.
This time, the rematch will be contested from the confines of Alumni Field on the campus of BEHS.
The last time the two Bristol squads squared off, the Lancers were able to topple the Rams by a 2-1 final.
Now, the season becomes all about playoff positioning for the Kingstreeters with two CCC challengers remaining on the docket.
Bristol Eastern Boys Soccer – Interdivisional Showdown
BRISTOL EASTERN 1, WETHERSFIELD 0
from Alumni Field, BEHS
Scoring 1 2 – F
Wethersfield (7-2-4) 0 0 – 0
Bristol Eastern (8-4-1) 1 0 – 1
Individual Scoring – First Half
*Liam Sanchez-Barreto (Bristol Eastern) from Rocco Barbino, 6:24
Individual Scoring – Second Half
*None
Saves: Nathan Morris (Wethersfield) 5; Peyton Cummings (Bristol Eastern), 8.
Records: Bristol Eastern 8-4-1 overall; Wethersfield 7-2-4.
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