Senior Aidan Gilson helps to lead Old Saybrook, who defeated Litchfield 2-0 in the Class S quarterfinals. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Harbor News
Cameron DeAngelo gives his teammates a fist pump prior to the start of a game, as Old Saybrook blanks Litchfield in the Class S quarterfinals and looks ahead to the Semis. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Harbor News
Old Saybrook boys soccer defeated Litchfield 2-0 on Nov. 11 in the quarterfinals of the Class S State Tournament at Plum Hill Field in Litchfield. The victory marked head coach Steve Waters’ 600th of his career, adding to a remarkable run for the winningest boys soccer coach in Connecticut history.
Both Old Saybrook goals were scored by senior captain Cameron DeAngelo. Fellow senior captains Kevin DeCapua and Bradley Kulmann each recorded an assist. Overall, Old Saybrook outshot Litchfield 11-1 in the contest. Junior goalkeeper London Sweeny kept Litchfield off the score sheet and tallied his 12th shutout of the year.
To set up their quarterfinal matchup with Litchfield, Old Saybrook defeated Bolton 2-0 on Nov. 9 at home. Goals came from Cameron DeAngelo and sophomore Liam Roberts, who opened the scoring for the Rams with his first career varsity goal. Kevin DeCapua assisted on both goals. The Rams outshot Bolton 15-2 in that game, and Bolton goalkeeper Trevor Buchanan made 8 saves.
Old Saybrook began state tournament play with an opening round victory over Westbrook 3-0 on November 7. Goals were scored by Kevin DeCapua, Cameron DeAngelo and Bradley Kulmann. Brayden Cody assisted on all 3 goals. The Old Saybrook defense did not allow a shot.
That staunch defense has been a key aspect of the No. 5 ranked Rams’ playoff run. Old Saybrook has yet to allow a goal in the state tournament. Coach Waters is impressed with the defense’s ability to adjust to each game’s unique situations this postseason.
“Our defenders and our defense system has stepped up during the tournament,” Coach Waters said. “They know how to clamp down…we’re more attuned to closing the gap and making an adjustment when we need to during the game.”
Coach Waters is in his 39th year coaching soccer and has 10 state titles under his belt. This year’s Old Saybrook team also brings a high level of experience to the state tournament. The Rams are looking for their 4th consecutive Connecticut Class M State Title. They feature 7 seniors including last year’s State Final MVP Cameron DeAngelo. Coach Waters enjoys watching DeAngelo and fellow senior captain Kevin DeCapua work together as the catalyst for Old Saybrook’s offense.
“It’s been fun, we’ve worked together with his shooting and his scoring ability,” Coach Waters said of Cameron. “He works hard, he likes scoring, he doubles up a lot with Kevin DeCapua up front. Kevin’s a skilled, tactical player and they complement each other very well.”
The Rams are also led by senior captain Jack Forrestt and senior captain Bradley Kulmann, along with seniors Michael Kapiji, Peter Wisialowski, and Aidan Gilson. Coach Waters is confident in his team’s preparation as many of them have been on deep state tournament runs before.
“There’s nothing we haven’t seen already, most of these players have been the core of the team for two seasons, so when you add up the 40 games or so that we’ve been together, there’s a lot of preparation and discussion for how we’re going to deal with each team.”
This year’s Rams team brings a competitiveness to the pitch that Coach Waters values. Since the preseason this summer, they have been focused on the state tournament. Now that it is here, Waters is confident they will bring the edge that is needed to succeed at this point in the season.
“From day 1 in the season we’ve been preparing for teams that we’d be able to see [during states] and preparing for situations that may come about during the games,” Waters said. “Every year is a different team, all special in their own ways. The way that each team finds their synergy to compete is the value of the team, and these guys know how to compete.”
Coach Waters spent the first 36 years of his career in Farmington, where he built a strong culture of winning. In Old Saybrook he has found the support of a close-knit community.
“The response from the community has been excellent here and it was excellent up in Farmington,” Coach Waters said. “Down here the small community really makes it nice and tightly knit. You know everyone at the game.”
To celebrate the 600-win milestone, Coach Waters and the team returned to his roots, stopping by George’s Pizza in Unionville on the trip back from Litchfield.
“Went with the whole team and had pizza,” said Coach Waters. “We went to what was a regular spot for me, George’s pizza up in Farmington.”
Next up for Old Saybrook is a semifinal matchup with undefeated Oxford, the number 1 seed. The Rams will take on the Wolverines at Veterans Stadium in New Britain on Nov. 15 at 5 pm
