Suffield Boys Soccer Find Themselves Tournament Bound

INTERNET-EXCLUSIVE STORY
By Gregory A. Scibelli
Turley Publications Correspondent
SUFFIELD – Going into the season, boys soccer coach Mark Beigel said Suffield High School’s 2008 semi-final team was hit hard by graduation and was heading into a 2009 season with three consecutive Class M State semifinal losses, two of those to North Central Connecticut Conference rival Ellington High School.

With a bleaker outlook on the season this year due to inexperience on the varisty level, things went at a slow, gradual pace for many members of the Wildcats…until the final three games of the season.

At 4-6-3, two wins were absolutely necessary and either a third win or a tie. A loss meant Suffield finished its regular season and went home.

This year, the Wildcats are heading back to the Class M State Tournament as they tore through their final three games of the regular season, defeating the likes to East Windsor High School, Granby, and an amazing 1-0 shutout of NCCC Champion Somers High School.

The wins rose Suffield’s record to 7-6-3. The Wildcats will likely play all of their tournament games on the road as seeds are published Friday morning, but they are heading to the tournament for another season.

Jamie Perez, one of the emerging stars for the Wildcats for the next few seasons, scored the lone goal against Somers. The Spartans presented Suffield with their biggest challenge of the season as the Wildcats sought so hard to reach the tournament this season.

Beigel said the growth of his players would be crucial in how Suffield performed this season, and thus far, the Wildcats have performed well above expectations.

Seeds for both the boys and girls soccer teams will be reported on my blog on Friday.