Rose's Goal Gives Farmington Overtime Win

FARMINGTON – Maybe it’s woven into those sharp Farmington soccer uniforms.

Perhaps it’s in the crisp riverside air at Tunxis Mead.

If its origin can be defined at all, it’s likely steeped in the longstanding tradition that head coach Steve Waters has cultivated over 29 years.

Wherever it came from, that unshakeable pride and will to win was never more evident than it was on the pitch of Al Bell Field Friday night.

Julian Rose scored from a scrum at the top of the box as the Indians overcame an early two-goal deficit to wear down New Britain, 3-2, for a victory critical to their CCC West title aspirations.

Farmington, now 10-1-2 in the division, holds a one-point lead over Hall (10-2-1) with one match remaining. The Indians will travel to Simsbury for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday, probably knowing how Hall did in its crosstown rivalry game at home against Conard earlier that afternoon.

New Britain, the last team to defeat Farmington on its home sod (1-0, Sept. 17, 2010), scored on two set pieces within the first four minutes.

Edin Duric scored both goals, the first off an assist from Michal Osowiecki after Sebastian Stezewski’s corner kick just 45 seconds into the match.

The second came at the beginning of the fourth minute. A free kick by Pawel Wozniak was deflected over the end line by a Farmington defender for another corner kick. Mateusz Dziubek and Fidel Begic had touches before Duric pushed it into the left side of the net for a 2-0 New Britain lead.

That ubiquitous Farmington will would be put to the test or the division crown could slip away.

“There was a lot of belief in themselves as a team,” Waters said. “We talked about it at halftime, to find the character in this team to find two points out of this game.

“It’s a mindset. We know we’re in a battle to win the [CCC West]. To not get one point out of today would have been disastrous so we pulled two after being down two.”

Overtime started slowly for Farmington. The wave that completely overwhelmed New Britain in the second half was temporarily neutralized during the first five-minute extra period. But with just over three minutes left in the second session, Rose deposited a shot past keeper Krzysztof Chwatko.

“To be honest I don’t really remember that much,” said Rose, one of 14 Farmington seniors celebrating their final regular season match at the Mead. “It kind of happened really quick.

“We had a corner. The ball was bouncing around in the box. Peter Wilbik headed it across. I ran through and hit it in the goal.”

Rose alluded to the intangible quality at the core of Farmington’s six state championships and 25 league titles in Waters’ prior 28 years.

“We just keep going,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s actually our physicality or our desire to win but we keep playing through games. It was a must-win. We want to win our [division] and we especially wanted to win on Senior Night. We never want to lose, that’s our mentality.”

Farmington, which out-shot New Britain 21-4, dictated the pace of the game right after the Hurricanes’ second goal. Tyler Hoffman, Matt Charpentier, Zach Zabach and J.P. DiTommaso all peppered Chwatko with shots until Dan Manfredi scored off an assist from Kyle Baker in the 15th minute.

New Britain made its final offensive gasps toward the end of the half. Duric made a nice run but his cross was intercepted by Farmington keeper Austin Peluso. Muhamed Alwishah spearheaded a counterattack in the last minute that he couldn’t finish.

The Indians completely dominated the second half. They generated 11 shots and five corner kicks with New Britain (6-6-3) rarely escaping its defensive half of the field.

With just under 12 minutes left, Justin Rappaport got a touch on a corner kick and Wilbik smacked it past Chwatko through a maze of bodies to tie the score.

The Indians continued to threaten. Dylan Papa, who returned from a long-term injury, ripped a shot that Chwatko caught. Wilbik dislodged it but Chwatko made a second save.

“Papa wasn’t even fit and he gutted out a game today, something we needed somebody to do,” Waters said.

An effective collaboration between Rose and Michael Lemnios resulted in two late chances. Lemnios hit a shot that was destined for inside the right post that a New Britain defender tipped away.

“I hope we can build off this,” Waters said. “I hope the guys can get closer from this. A loss like this could have divided us apart but a win conjoins you as a unit. That’s what I’m hoping the end result is for us.”

Farmington 3, New Britain 2 (OT)

New Britain 2 0 0 0 – 2

Farmington 1 1 0 1 – 3

First half – 1. NB, Edin Duric (Michal Osowiecki), 1st minute; 2. NB, Duric (Fidel Begic), 4th; 3. F, Dan Manfredi (Kyle Baker), 15th.

Second half – 4. Peter Wilbik (Justin Rappaport), 69th.

Overtime – 5. F, Julian Rose (Wilbik), 87th.

Saves – NB, Krzysztof Chwatko 9; F, Austin Peluso 1. Shots – F, 21-4. Corner kicks – F, 9-3.

Records – NB 6-6-3 (4-6-3 CCC West); F 11-1-3 (10-1-2).