The hard rain late Friday night into Saturday saw the West Haven Youth Soccer League have to postpone most of its Opening Weekend games, but some of the travel teams were able to get their contests in last weekend. On Saturday, the Rock House School of Music West Haven U-19 boys hosted Ansonia.
West Haven got the early lead, with Youssopha Cisse knocked the ball into the goal off a Phillip Smith cross from outside the penalty box. Ansonia scored just before halftime though to tie the game. JJ Ardito worked hard in the midfield, but it was not enough as Ansonia took the lead in the second half and held on to finish the game, 2-1. On Sunday, the boys were back in action, this time hosting Naugatuck. West Haven went down 1-0 early off of a penalty kick, but Santiago Moreno equalized later for the hosts.
The game ended 1-1. The Top Hat Dance Academy West Haven U-19 boys had two league games this weekend, winning both to start the season 2-0. Saturday night on the turf at West Haven High School, the Westies played Cheshire, winning 5-1. Holden Axelrod played well in the goal, while the goals came from Danny Morales and Shamar Kingston. The boys were back in action on Sunday, playing New Haven. Axelrod and Nash Noble combined for the shutout, and each added a goal of their own, and Ricardo Lopez, Javier Yanez and Hugo Castillo added to the goal tally in the 6-0 win.
Sunday afternoon, the Elite Soccer Camps West Haven U-14 girls travel team went up I-95 to play Clinton. The rain held off for some of the game, but soon the girls were forced to play in the slick conditions on the turf in Clinton. West Haven dominated the game from early on, but could not find the back of the net until a corner kick play saw Olivia Trenchard and Ariana Izzo combine to get the ball into the penalty box. A half clearance by Clinton from a Brooke Flaherty shot saw the ball fall to Izzo’s feet, and she hammered the ball into the top corner.
Izzo would later add two more goals, one of a beautiful passing sequence that saw Emma Walker and Julia Tsakonas combine before Walker calmly laid the ball off for Izzo to tap into the goal. The final goal of the Izzo hat trick could come from a beautiful free kick that she put in from just outside the box. Cassie Wadeka had the shutout in goal for the Westies, as the backline anchored by CC Williams, Abigail Phelan, Camryn Flaherty and Nevaeh Swanson helped the Westies to the 5-0 win.
Sunday night, the Gunning Law Firm West Haven U-19 girls took on Hadam-Killingworth in the rain. The Westies jumped to an early lead, on a Cori Severino goal from the left post, but the half saw the score tied at 1-1 as H-K leveled the game on a penalty kick. Shelby Gagne and Angela Borelli took turns in the net, stopping several shots. The second half saw a very physical game with both teams having several chances to score and take the lead.
Selena Izzo just missed the net, playing well in the central midfield. While Shelby Gagne also chipped in with a couple of nice plays in front of the net. In the end, H-K was able to pull away, winning the game, 4-1. The Westie defense was anchored by Grace Nowak, with support from Julia Merola, Amanda Tsakonas, Aerin Mclaughlin and Lauren Panza. Madison Molster, Cecelia Yanez and Riley Severino controlled played well in midfield.