Granby Boys Oust Montville 2-0 in Class M Semis

In a physical, sometimes brutal, match, advanced to the state Class M title game with a 2-0 victory over defending co-champion Montville in the semifinals at Middletown High on Saturday evening.

Mike Noyes and Carlin Champion each scored for the Bears (12-4-3), while goalie David Gottschalk made six saves, including one that preserved a tenuous one-goal lead late in the second half (more on that later), as Granby earned its third berth in the title game in four years.

“The boys met the challenge tonight,” Granby Memorial head coach Dave Emery said. “Montville is a good team, with good players. I thought they were very physical. We met their physicality.”

Montville head coach Colin Delaney, for his part, was defiant in the loss.

“Soccer is a funny game,” Delaney said. “I’m not taking anything away from Granby; they’re a solid squad. I think we’re a superior team. … From a soccer standpoint, we were the better team. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way. … The score wasn’t indicative of the game.”

Emery respectfully and understandably disagreed, stating that there were stretches during the game when Montville gave Granby Memorial some difficulty, but by no means did the Indians dominate play.

“[Connor Leeman] and [Jeffrey Tryon] were their quality players,” Emery said. “One would play up front and the other would play in central midfield. When they switched them, that would cause us problems, but we would adjust. … I thought we dominated enough of the play to be the worth winner of the game.”

The statistics bore out Emery’s claim: the Bears and Indians both had six shots on goal, while Granby Memorial earned eight corner kicks to Montville’s two. The Bears also laid claim to having two players sustain concussions during the game.

Regardless of who outplayed whom, scoring, in the end, is the name of the game and Noyes opened the Bears’ account in the 20th minute when he nodded home Peter Brodeur’s inspired corner kick into Montville’s 18.

“That was a beauty,” Emery said. “[Noyes is] more of an exceptional athlete than an exceptional soccer player. It’s great to see him go up in the air and that was fun to see.”

Granby played outstanding team defense, led by Glen Calder, Noyes, Cole Lombardo, Trevor Bendig and Jacob Yankouskas. Indeed, Tryon, Montville’s outstanding scoring threat, was held in check, never getting so much as a shot off.

When Montville (18-4) did manage to squeeze off a shot, Gottschalk was there to keep the Indians off the board.

At no time was that more evident than in the 77th minute, when Gottschalk dove to his left and smothered Richard Lusk’s shot from point-blank range.

“That was almost a guess, basically,” Gottschalk said. “He was so close, I had to guess what side he was going to and I picked it right. I was just trying to keep us in the game. We played a great game and I just wanted to do my part to help us win.”

Emery had nothing but praise for his talented senior keeper, who has had his share of jaw-dropping moments during the tournament.

“He’s spectacular,” Emery said. “All through this tournament, there were instances when we battle and battle and battle, as does our opponent, and when they get that one shot that looks like it can turn the game around, and all of a sudden, boom, there he is. He’s a game changer. He can take what everybody is anticipating what is a golden opportunity and snuff it out.”

Montville never got closer to scoring than that opportunity, as Champion finished off a Brodeur threat with just one second remaining, sending the Granby Memorial bench into a state of euphoria.

“I am very, very proud of these young men and very pleased to be going back to the finals,” Emery said.