Despite what has started off as a somewhat rocky season for St. Joseph boys’ soccer,
The Cadets came through with a 2-2 draw against Westhill, which is currently ranked fourth in the FCIAC standings.
Tension for the game was high as Westhill was coming off of a 4-1 win against Stamford as well as four other wins and two draws in the 2023 season to date.
The first half of the game started off promising for St. Joe’s: Senior striker and captain Joseph Iazzetta was awarded a penalty kick with 28:27 left in the first half, but missed.
However, with 20:13 minutes remaining in the half, Iazzetta scored in a momentous feat of perseverance.
Despite usually playing center-mid, Iazzetta did an admirable job with the transition from playing midfield to playing forward.
Less than one minute after Iazzetta’s goal, Westhill scored off a free kick. This tied the score 1-1, a score that would persist for the rest of the half.
With seconds left in the half, Iazzetta charged into the penalty box and attempted to score, but the shot was blocked by the Westhill goalkeeper.
St. Joe’s had some trouble making space upfield during the first half as they prioritized slower passes and resetting their defensive lineup whenever they gained possession.
The team played backwards and set up passes within the defense. With under three minutes left in the first half, St. Joseph coach Thomas Connolly urged his team to play aggressively, and find the open space whenever possible. Connolly also stressed the importance of playing long and clearing as many balls as possible.
Despite Westhill’s aggressive offense, the low number of goals the Vikings scored throughout the game was partially due to senior goalkeeper and captain Jason Lambert, Jr. as well as help from the defense.
Lambert had many noteworthy saves in the first and second halves, including one off of a Westhill corner and one further down the field at the 20-yard line.
St. Joe’s defense performed well under pressure, especially during corners from Westhill: Sophomore center midfielder Cruz Guglielmoni headed a Westhill corner to the sidelines with 28:29 remaining.
A little bit later, sophomore right fullback Jamie McKenna blocked a shot on the goal.
During the second half of the game, St. Joe’s once again prioritized resetting and using slower passes.
Westhill had a corner with 37:20 remaining, which they missed.
During this half, St. Joe’s tightened up its attack and started playing much more aggressively. There were multiple shots taken: With 21:44 remaining, sophomore center attacking midfielder Josiah Thompson shot, and with 5:21 remaining, sophomore left midfielder Alexander Acosta shot.
Directly after Acosta’s shot, Guglielmoni shot a corner on Westhill. These shots missed but displayed the team’s emphasis on offense during the second half.
With 26:03 remaining, Westhill earned a free kick. Connolly directed his team to stand together in a group of four to attempt to stop the kick, and sophomore left midfielder Chris Maldonado blocked the shot.
Over 20 minutes later, with 5:01 remaining in the half, Westhill scored. The score was 2-1 and the pressure was on for St. Joe’s.
By the two-minute mark, St. Joe’s regained possession and were rewarded with a free Kick.
The kick was given to sophomore center back Marcelo Rosa, and with under a minute remaining in the game, and from 30 yards back, Rosa scored.
The point brought the score to a draw of 2-2, a score that held for the remaining 45 seconds of the game.
Although it is Rosa’s second year on varsity, it was his first varsity goal, and it certainly could not have come at a better time. The goal not only tied the game for St. Joe’s, but also boosted morale for the boys and reinforced hope in their abilities as individuals and as a team.
The game acts as an optimistic indicator of what may be to come for the St. Joe’s boys soccer team for the remainder of their season, as well as a reminder that every moment in a game counts, and that redemption is possible with communication, teamwork, and energy.