Regular Season Ends On The Road With Win

Press Release/News Article
Posted

Men’s Soccer:

Regular Season Ends On The Road With Win
11-5-1 Cougars Begin Region 21 Title Defense Saturday

SOMERVILLE, MA – The regular season is in the books for the Manchester CC men’s soccer team after a 3-0 victory over Benjamin Franklin IT Monday evening at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, MA.

Giuseppe Panajia (Glastonbury), Zach Simmons (Coventry) and Eric Trazinski (East Granby) each scored for MCC (11-5-1). Tony Ettorre (Plainville) and Chris Hayes (East Windsor) combined for the shutout. Trazinski, Tony Scotti (Bristol), Bryant Bermudez (East Hartford) and Lucas Soares (Waterbury) picked up assists.

#1 MCC, the two-time defending Region 21, Division III champion, return to Somerville on Saturday to play #4 MassBay CC at 11AM in this year’s tournament semi-final.

The Cougars, who survived a rash of injuries to key players throughout the season, welcomed back starters Bermudez, Simmons and Tyler McKeone (Manchester). Offensive threat Mark Grant (Japan) and returning starter Kyle Hovey (Morris) were lost for the season in early September, but MCC head coach Jim Insinga made adjustments and guided his team to a remarkable 9-2 conference record.

“We were really hurt for three or four weeks,” Insinga said. “But we are getting our soldiers back and hitting stride when we should.” Insinga, who is 127-66-10 through eleven seasons at MCC, has led his teams to six Region 21 championships and two trips to the national championship tournament.

Monday’s trip to Somerville to play on the artificial turf at Dilboy Stadium allowed MCC to a get feel for the faster surface they will be playing in the tournament.

“Coming off the turf with a win like that was good,” Insinga said. “We able to stay very compact with the players coming back are pretty comfortable on the turf.”

Insinga cited Ettorre’s performance in goal as one of his best of the year and feels Pananjia, who scored four goals in the last three games and leads the team with 10, is hitting stride. Ettorre has allowed 15 goals over 16 games with 90 saves and a 1.017 GAA.

“We changed to a more defensive set (4-2-3-1) and moved G (Panajia) to the flank with Eric (Trazinski) as the lone forward and it has made a huge difference,” Insinga said. Trazinski has nine goals and 22 points going into the tournament.

#2 Bunker Hill CC will face #3 Holyoke CC in Saturday’s other semi-final game. The winners will meet in the championship game on Sunday at 1PM.