GSOC: Cheshire High finally connects; rolls Lyman Hall, 6-0

By Paul Caricciolo
@windowtothepaul

CHESHIRE--The Cheshire High School girls soccer team, which has struggled this season get its shots on net, sank its troubles and had its way with Lyman Hall Friday, winning 6-0 on home turf.

The Rams (4-5-2) scored on more shots than they missed, converting six of 10.

“We definitely finished a lot,” sophomore forward Elizabeth Lurz said. “We were definitely more goal driven and attack the goal better than we usually do.”

In practice, the Rams primarily focused on taking good shots and getting them on net. Cheshire has struggled all season to get shots on target, so today’s matchup was a welcome for the Rams.

“Most of our shots actually went in goal this time, we usually we have a million shots and just can't finish,” senior defender Samantha Bellina said.

"Putting shots actually on frame, instead of everywhere but…,” coach James Luis said. :We struggled for most of the season in actually getting shots on target and they did a good job of that today.”

Luis yells from the sidelines “Connect!” at every game, he said, and also stresses the importance of good passing.

“Moving the ball is always important. It allows us to keep the ball and actually rest while the defending teams doing a lot more work than we are, so certainly it wears them down,” he said.

Lyman Hall (3-7-3) played strong defense very high the first half, and -- despite getting handled for four goals -- stuck to its game plan in the second half.

“They were great assists. They were definitely really good through balls and it was built up really well up to that point,” Lurz of her two goals.

Luis saw the potential for through-balls to become high percentage shots, so he put Bellina, a captain, in at forward to attempt and get her first career goal. She appeared to score one, but an offsides call negated the apparent goal.

“It was a blast,” Bellina said. “I may never get that opportunity. I kind of wish I really scored, but it was a lot of fun.”

The lopsided score allowed Luis to put in a number of the team’s young players.
“It’s always important for them to play. They want to represent their school regardless of what grade level they’re in,” Luis said.

With the young players seeing more time on the field, Bellina believes the team is starting to click and is ready to make a run.

“Everybody is starting to click as they play. We’re going to do better, I think, in the postseason and in years to come,” she said.

Still, the team needs to focus on more than just finishing shots, Bellina said.

​“I think we need to work on playing in every area of the field well, usually were are really good in one area and lacking in others, so we need to bring it all together,” she said.