Stonington boys soccer remains calm and advances in the Class M tournament

November 8, 2024 10:37 PM • Last updated: November 8, 2024 10:37 PM

Stonington – With a return trip to the semifinals of the Class M boys soccer tournament on the line, Stonington senior Chase Donnarummo stepped up to take his penalty shot attempt Friday.

Donnarummo seemed calm.

“There was a lot of pressure on me,” Donnarummo said. “But we go with conviction.”

Donnarummo buried his shot to give No. 18 Stonington a 5-4 win in the shootout over No. 26 Lewis Mills and set off a joyous celebration. After regular playing time and two 10-minute extensions, the score remained at 2-2.

Stonington will play No. 6 Tolland, a 5-0 winner over No. 3 Hand, in the semifinals at a date and time to be determined.

In the quarterfinals, the Bears won the rematch between last year’s two Class M finalists. Lewis Mills won the battle for the 2023 state title, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to send Friday’s quarterfinal into overtime.

Junior Sal Alessio’s laser gave the Bears a 1-0 lead and senior Landon Pelletier banked in a shot straight off a corner kick to push the lead to two with 21 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half.

The Bears led 2-1 at halftime before Roberto Rubbo Jr. buried a low shot in the corner, making the score still 28:48.

Both teams frantically tried to break the tie.

Lewis Mills played with the wind at his back in the second half and almost took the lead on a few occasions. The Bears defended with heart and soul to prevent further damage.

After a scoreless overtime, Stonington found itself in a penalty shootout for the second time in three state tournament games.

Stonington senior goalkeeper Nick Cannella was ready. He didn’t hold back after Lewis Mills scored four goals with well-placed shots.

Alessio, Pelletier, senior Ethan Cabrera and senior Jace Wolfradt all converted their efforts to keep the Bears alive.

Then Cannella delivered, making a huge diving save to start the fifth round and set up Donnaurummo’s game-clinching kick.

“I’m pretty confident,” Cannella said. “Last year I made three saves in the semifinals of the state tournament. … I trusted my instincts. I thought it was coming. I got my hands on two of them. It was frustrating. But the PKs are all about flushing and moving on to the next one.”

Stonington coach Mario Costa had confidence in his goalkeeper.

“Big Nick is always good for at least one save,” Costa said. “It’s nice to have a goalkeeper who can go a step further at such moments.”

Stonington (12-7-2) is in a familiar position.

As a No. 17 seed last year, the Bears exceeded expectations and reached the finals. They believe they can do it again.

“We knew we had just as good a chance as last year, if not better, to get back here,” Cannella said. “We knew one hundred percent that we would come back here.”

Now the Bears will prepare for the semifinals.

“Now it’s one win and you’re back at Dillon Stadium,” Costa said, referring to the site of the state finals. “That has always been the goal of this team. We returned eight or nine starters who played in the finals last year. They have ambitions to get there again.

“But it won’t be easy against a Tolland team that I heard won 5-0.”

[email protected]