This year, the FCIAC boys soccer throne is big enough for two.
The Greenwich Cardinals and Trumbull Golden Eagles played to a thrilling, yet bittersweet, 1-1 tie in Thursday’s FCIAC title game, being named conference Co-Champions — a feat that the league hadn’t seen since 2012.
As the clock hit zero following 100 minutes of play at Testa Field in Norwalk, players from both sides dropped to the ground and took one final reluctant look at the scoreboard.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling because as a competitive player, it doesn’t feel right…but we can’t be disappointed,” said Greenwich senior captain Alejandro Maclean. “In the end, we didn’t lose. Both teams gave it all they had. Both team came into this undefeated and we knew how tough it was going to be.”
Greenwich finished their FCIAC season with a 15-0-4 record while Trumbull capped off conference play with a 14-0-4 overall record. Greenwich’s last FCIAC title came in 2013 and Trumbull’s last conference championship came in 2011.
“It was really two heavyweights that couldn’t find a knockout punch,” said Greenwich head coach Kurt Putnam. “I go away quite satisfied because I thought my boys hung in there well.”
The stalemate produced memorable moments for both sides, with the Cardinals not wasting anytime in getting the action started.
Maclean lined up a set piece just over a minute into the game from a familiar 20-yards out on the left side. His season-long success at either sending in a perfect cross or finding the back of the net on set shots pushed Trumbull to defend both options. Instead, the sneaky senior pushed across a short touch pass to a cutting Flavien Lolo who fired an off-foot shot across the box to the left side of the net.
“It was amazing that we started off with a goal,” said Lolo after the draw. “I feel like we’re the best teams in Connecticut. Everyone played a hell of a game.”
The half would end with Greenwich maintaining momentum, but the Golden Eagles would prove why they deserved at least a share of the hardware with a strong push out of the intermission.
On Trumbull’s third corner kick of the second half, Daniel Folchick got just enough on the crossed ball to bring the game to a 1-1 tie in the 47th minute.
The two unbeaten teams played a physical contest where undoubtedly both were going all out,
“It’s a fair result,” said Trumbull head coach Sebastian Gangemi, who applauded his team and their momentum shifting play.
Maclean would have a last-minute attempt from a set shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
“We’re definately ready to take on states,” said Greenwich goalie James Johnson. “We got so far in FCIAC’s and we’re really hungry for that win…since we didn’t get the official win today. I think we’ll have that hunger going into states.”
The Cardinals received the No. 2 seed in the LL tournament and will play the winner of Westhill and Career/Hillhouse in the first round. A possible third game of the year against Trumbull could be possible in the semifinal round if both teams extend their unbeaten streak until then.
