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Farmington, E.O. Smith Battle to Scoreless Draw

Central defenders bottle up Panthers' high-scoring duo in season opener at Tunxis Mead.

FARMINGTON – Visiting E.O. Smith, outfitted with the preseason bullseye of being chosen as the state’s best team and rated among the top 15 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, provided defending Class LL champion Farmington with plenty of incentive.

Striker supreme Mitchell Taintor and central midfielder Luke Melody furnish the Panthers with a one-two punch that should have them challenging for their first state title since 1998.

The game also pitted two venerable coaches who combined have tasted the fruits of victory just south of 900 times in their illustrious careers, but after Tuesday night’s match neither of their totals increased.

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The determined Farmington defense led by Julian Rose neutralized the E.O. Smith attack and the teams settled for a 0-0 draw before about 1,000 onlookers at mosquito-infested Al Bell Field.

“I thought we had the energy level, intensity and determination on our side. We just kept coming,” said Farmington coach Steve Waters, now 430-68-34 after the first match of his 29th season.

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“I was impressed with our structure for the amount of time we worked on it in training. Rose had a dynamite game. Rappaport had a dynamite game. The four guys who played in the back? I don’t think they got a shot off inside the 20.”

Farmington possessed better and displayed a more cohesive offense as its 12-7 advantage in shots suggest.

Taintor, who trains at the New England Revolution Academy and has accepted a full scholarship to Rutgers, had two golden opportunities on one attack in the 27th minute but was otherwise kept quiet. Melody’s touches were few and far between.

“It just didn’t seem like we had the ball that much,” said E.O. coach John Blomstrann, who eclipsed the 450-win barrier last year and surpassed the late John McVicar of Rocky Hill as the state’s winningest coach.

“The first half it seemed like their midfielders were keeping possession on the ground. They were going across the field and we were just defending and kicking without possessing. I thought it got better as the game progressed.

“They were still very dangerous. They’re a very good team, but I thought we were throwing it away too much and trying to do too much individually.”

Rose said he wasn’t happy with the result but his smile suggested a degree of satisfaction.

“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “They’re a great team. I don’t think I can live with it but it’s acceptable … for now. I felt like we could have put one away but it’s soccer. That’s the way it works.”

Taintor, grandson of legendary UConn coach Joe Morrone who was honored with a ceremonial kickoff, paid tribute to the Indians.

“They figured out how to play me with the runs I usually make on the diagonals,” he said. “Their center backs did a great job making sure I didn’t have the space to dribble and work my magic in the midfield.

“When I was checking back, I always had two or three guys on my back so it made it hard for me to do what I usually do. A lot of credit goes to Farmington. They had a really strong midfield.”

The Indians generated scoring chances consistently throughout the first 20 minutes.

Dan Manfredi, displaying an accurate leg from the back, nearly succeeded in chipping one over the head of keeper Xavier Fegan five minutes in. Six minutes later, Fegan stopped a shot by midfielder Zach Zaback at the near post.

Striker Adrian Kukula threaded a ball to Peter Wilbik at the left post but Fegan was again up to the task. Fegan aggressively broke up Kyle Baker’s attempt to set up Wilbik six minutes before halftime.

The chances were fewer for both sides in the second half. In the 48th minute, Kukula found Dylan Papa steaming goalward near the top of the box but defender Mark Schmidt rode him off the ball.

Two five-minute overtimes didn’t come close to solving the scoreless equation.

 

Farmington 0, E.O. Smith 0 (OT)

E.O. Smith (0-0-1)     0  0  0 – 0

Farmington (0-0-1)     0  0  0 – 0

Shots – Farmington, 12-7. Saves – EOS, Xavier Fegan 7; Farm, Austin Peluso 2. Corner kicks – 1-1.

 

 

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