Naugatuck boys soccer wins third straight NVL title on penalty kicks against Watertown

WATERBURY – The Naugatuck boys soccer team claimed an NVL championship three-peat on Tuesday night at Ray Snyder Sr. Field, but Watertown made the Greyhounds earn it.

Naugatuck outscored the Warriors 3-1 on penalty kicks to win a game that seemed like a roller coaster ride to all involved.

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It finally ended when Naugatuck’s Deric Eshaghi made his PK and set off a big celebration for the Greyhounds (15-1-3). For Watertown’s Warriors (12-6-1), there were tears shed for what might have been.

Watertown’s Elvin Mani got his team on the board first just 4:01 into the opening half. Naugatuck’s Jayden Dechane scored the equalizer at 29:15 left in the first half by redirecting a Julian Visciano corner kick into the goal.

The Greyhounds went ahead 2-1 with just over 22 minutes left in the first half on a goal by Cristian Paniagua off a great feed from the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Antonio Guerreiro. The score remained 2-1 at halftime.

It took until 6:23 left in regulation, but Watertown got its equalizer on Mani’s second goal of the game off an assist from Gianni Melaragno.

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Regulation ended at 2-2, then Naugatuck took a 3-2 lead with 1:15 left in the first 10-minute overtime on a goal by Eshaghi off an Enzo Medina assist.

Just 15 seconds into the second 10-minute overtime, Watertown provided a stunning equalizer when Quinn Delaney played a terrific ball forward to Arian Loga, who scored to make it 3-3. That’s where overtime ended.

In penalty kicks, Naugatuck got goals from Gabriel Laszkiewicz, Visciano and Eshaghi, and a save from Laszkiewicz. Watertown’s goal in the penalty kicks was scored by Christian Kuzia, and Anthony Melaragno made one save.

Player of the Game

Antonio Guerreiro, Naugatuck: The tournament’s Most Outstanding Player assisted Cristian Paniagua’s goal in the final.

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Naugatuck 4, Watertown 3 (3-1 PK)

WATERTOWN 1 1 0 1-3
NAUGATUCK 2 0 1 0-3

Goals: N-Jayden Dechane, Cristian Paniagua, Deric Eshaghi; W-Elvin Mani 2, Arian Loga.

Goals: N-Gabriel Laszkiewicz, Julian Visciano, Eshaghi; W-Christian Kuzia.

N-Laszkiewicz 1; W-Anthony Melaragno 1.
Records: N 15-1-3; W 12-6-1.

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This article originally published at Naugatuck boys soccer wins third straight NVL title on penalty kicks against Watertown.