Senior Way
Westies ride play of seniors in 2-1 over Branford
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 11, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team returned from a week off with a hard fought 2-1 road victory over Branford Monday evening. With its second victory in three games, West Haven improved to 6-3-2 on the season.
A week after falling to cross-town rival Notre Dame, West Haven turned to its seniors to get back on the winning track. Donaldo Yanez and Jerson Aquino scored, Brian Rivadera added an assist, and goalkeeper Brian Carew made seven saves.
Yanez gave West Haven a 1-0 lead at the 20:23 mark of the opening half with an unassisted tally. The goal by Yanez held up until the mid-point of the second half.
Jerson Aquino gave West Haven a 2-0 lead when he scored off an assist from Rivadera at the 60:13 mark.
The goal by Aquino would prove to be big as Branford scored on a penalty kick with less than 11 minutes remaining to cut the West Haven lead in half.
Branford never got closer and West Haven, which held an 18-8 shot advantage, held on for the victory.
North tops West
Late goal sinks Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 15, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team is looking to get back on track. After starting the season 4-1-2, the Westies have hit a tough stretch. West Haven lost its second game in three meetings and third in five contests with a 3-2 loss at North Haven Friday evening.
With the loss, West Haven fell to 6-4-2 on the year.
The Westies held a 22-11 shot advantage in the contest, but North Haven goalkeeper Mark Ludovico made 10 saves to keep West Haven from winning the contest.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead to the half when senior Mekhi Pittman was credited with an own goal at the 27:37 mark of the first half.The lead held up until North Haven scored the equalizer and go-ahead goals in a three minute stretch. West Haven’s Mubarak Issa knotted the game with 6:40 left in regulation on an unassisted tally, but North Haven’s Zion Teclechiel scored his second of the game with 3:10 lift to give North Haven the victory.
Westies upset Law
Solid effort propels WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 20, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team knew it was in for a battle Wednesday evening when it played host to undefeated Jonathan Law. After falling behind early, West Haven responded with three unanswered goals in a 3-1 victory at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
The Westies (7-4-2) saw Law score first in the contest, but less than one minute later the game was tied when Sebastian Navarro scored off an assist from Alan Hernandez. The goal, just 40 seconds after Law’s tally, set the tone for the rest of the contest.
With the game even at one at the half, West Haven took the lead for good 9 minutes, 10 seconds into the second half when Rafael Gazcon scored off an assist from Donaldo Yanez. The goal by Gazcon held up, and Mubarak Issa scored an unassisted tally with 2:23 remaining for the 3-1 margin.
West Haven held a 20-11 shot advantage in the game. Brian Carew made nine saves in the win for West Haven.
Westies blank Coginchaug
Carew, Axelrod lead West Haven
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 22, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team wants to be peaking in time for the postseason. The Westies took a step in that direction Friday evening.
Behind the shutout goaltending of Brian Carew and Holden Axelrod, and the offense of Donaldo Yanez and Brian Rivadera, the Westies defeated Coginchaug 4-0 at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
The shutout was West Haven’s third win in four contests and helped the team improve to 8-4-2 on the year.
Yanez gave West Haven a 1-0 lead with 5:47 left in the opening half with the first of his two unassisted tallies. When Yanez scored 2:41 into the second half, the Westies held a 2-0 advantage.
Rivadera then helped put the game away with two goals in less than two minutes late in the contest. Rivadera’s first goal off an assist from Zachary Guy gave West Haven a 3-0 lead with 18:58 remaining. Rivadera then scored off an assist from Alan Hernandez 1:59 later.
West Haven held a 28-5 shot advantage in the contest. Carew finished with two saves and Axelrod made one in the victory.
Three in a Row
West Haven tops Shelton
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 23, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team improved to 9-4-2 with its third consecutive victory Saturday afternoon at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. Behind goals from Donaldo Yanez, Mubarak Issa, and Brian Rivadera, West Haven defeated Shelton 3-1.
The Westies held a 10-6 shot advantage in the contest, with Brian Carew making two saves in the win.
West Haven scored quickly and took a 2-0 lead to the half. Yanez opened the scoring with a goal 1:32 into the contest off an assist from Alan Hernandez. The goal by Yanez would hold up until Issa gave West Haven a 2-0 lead off an assist from Murtaza Amjad with 14 minutes left in the half.
Rivadera increased the lead to 3-0 off an assist from Issa 10:32 into the second half, which was more than enough for West Haven.
Issa leads Westies
Senior scores 3 times in 4-3 win over Amity
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 28, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team is peaking at the right time. With the postseason around the corner, the Westies are headed in the right direction.
Behind three goals from Mubarak Issa, West Haven defeated Amity 4-3 on the road Thursday evening. The win was the fourth in a row and fifth in six games for West Haven.
Issa got the Westies going early when he scored an unassisted tally at the 17:37 mark. After Amity evened the contest less than a minute later, West Haven took the lead for good.
Issa scored his second of the game, off an assist from Donaldo Yanez, for a 2-1 lead with 4:23 remaining in the opening half.
Brian Rivadera gave West Haven a 3-1 lead off an assist from Alan Hernandez 19:42 into the second half, before Amity scored on a penalty kick with 16:30 remaining.
Issa countered that goal by the Spartans with his third of the game, off an assist from John Portillo, with 10:57 remaining. Amity added a late goal, but West Haven hung on for its fourth consecutive victory.
Brian Carew made seven saves in the win for West Haven. The Westies held a 12-10 shot advantage in the contest.
Season Over
Conard blanks Westies 1-0 in Class LL opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(November 9, 2021) - The season has come to a sudden close for the West Haven boys soccer team. Despite playing a solid defensive game, the 11th-seeded Westies were eliminated from the postseason by No. 22 Conard by a score of 1-0 at Ken Strong Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
After a 5-2 loss to Xavier in the opening round of the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament, the Westies were looking for a strong all-around game to start the state tournament.
In an evenly played contest, West Haven held a 9-8 shot advantage but Conard put in the only goal. Luke Wadsworth’s unassisted tally proved to be the difference in the game and was enough to end the season for the Westies.
As has been the case all season, Brian Carew played well in goal with two saves.
Despite the loss, the Westies received postseason honors as seniors Donaldo Yanez and Brian Rivadera each were named to the All-SCC First Team. Junior Sebastian Navarro and sophomore Daniel Duarte placed on the Second Team.
BOYS SOCCER 2021
All-State Players - Luigi Cappetta '88; Eric Soares '97; Dave Forero '99; Carlos Caracas '00; Matt Gilman '02; Salah Oumorou '14, '15, '16; Donaldo Yanez '21
All-New England Players and All-American Players - Salah Oumorou '16; Aldo Barragan '20; Anthony Vendrella '20;
THE HOME OF WEST HAVEN SPORTS
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Tied Again
Westies and NDWH play to 0-0 draw in opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 11, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team was looking to get off to a good start to the 2021 season. Heading into the contest against arch-rival Notre Dame, the Westies knew the Green Knights had a tough defense, having posted a shutout in their opener.
Donaldo Yanez (10) and the Westies played to a scoreless draw against Notre Dame, September 11, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven countered with a top defensive effort, but it was not enough as the two teams played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. This marked the second straight season the two teams opened with a draw.
West Haven matched the defense of Notre Dame in terms of not allowing a goal as goaltender Brian Carew made three saves in the shutout.
West Haven had his opportunities with 13 shots, but could not dent the back of the goal.
First of the Year
Gazcon, Carew lead Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 14, 2021) - After opening the season with a scoreless draw against rival Notre Dame, the West Haven boys soccer team was looking to pick up the offensive output. The Westies did just that Tuesday when they traveled to Sheehan and topped the Titans 3-1.
Sophomore Rafael Gazcon led the way with a pair of goals as the Westies had 24 shots in the game. West Haven’s defense held Sheehan to just three shots in the contest and senior goalkeeper Brian Carew needed to make just two saves in posting his second shutout of the year.
West Haven got on the board first at the 21:01 mark when senior Brian Rivadera scored off an assist from fellow senior Mubarak Issa. That lead held true until the second half when the Westies scored twice.
Gazcon gave West Haven a 2-0 lead at the 44:03 mark off a penalty kick in what proved to be the decisive goal. Sheehan’s Vinnie Carbone cut the deficit in half, before Gazcon sealed the victory off an assist from Donaldo Yanez with 16 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the game.
Draw
Westies and Branford play to 2-2 draw
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 17, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team moved to 1-0-2 with a 2-2 draw against Branford Friday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
After a scoreless first half, the Westies took a 1-0 lead 14 minutes, 20 seconds into the second half when junior Sebastian Navarro scored an unassisted goal.
Branford evened the game less than seven minutes later on an own goal by the Westies, before senior Mubarak Issa needed just 5:35 to give the advantage back to West Haven. Senior Donaldo Yanez assisted on the goal by Issa.
Despite holding a 15-7 shot advantage, West Haven could not keep the lead as Branford tied the contest in the final six minutes.
Senior Brian Carew made six saves in the draw for West Haven.
WH blanks Gaels
Yanez, Issa score to lead Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 20, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team improved to 2-0-2 with a 2-0 victory at Shelton Monday evening. The win allowed the Westies to remain undefeated early in the season.
The West Haven defense was again stellar, helping goalkeeper Brian Carew post his second shutout of the year. Carew needed to make just one save as West Haven held a 10-3 shot advantage.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead with 2:09 left in the first half as Donaldo Yanez scored off an assist from Victor Lorenzo. The goal by Yanez would hold up as the Westies limited the shots by the Gaels throughout the contest.
Mubarak Issa scored an unassisted goal 10:50 into the second half for a 2-0 advantage.
Rally Time
Westies use late tallies in win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 21, 2021) - The success of the West Haven boys soccer team continues. After squandering a two-goal lead, West Haven rebounded to defeat North Haven 5-3 Tuesday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
West Haven topped North Haven, September 21, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Mubarak Issa scored twice, Daniel Duarte, Donaldo Yanez, and Alan Hernandez each scored once, and Brian Carew made three saves as West Haven improved to 3-0-2 on the year.
Issa gave West Haven a 1-0 advantage with an unassisted goal at the 24:59 mark, before Duarte scored off an assist from Yanez 1:38 later for a 2-0 lead.
North Haven’s Jack Pollard cut the deficit in half 6:04 before the half, then evened the contest 13:44 into the second half.
With West Haven holding an 18-7 shot advantage in the contest, the Westies took the lead for good when Yanez scored off an assist from Brian Rivadera with 8:36 remaining. Issa scored with 5:39 remaining for a 4-2 advantage, before North Haven used a late goal to get the game closer.
First of the Season
Westies fall to Law 3-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 25, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 loss in Milford against Jonathan Law. With the loss, the Westies fell to 3-1-2.
Law got off to a quick start in the contest and never looked back as Marcus Dostal scored twice in the first 15 minutes to give Law a 2-0 advantage.
The Westies cut the deficit in half at the 21:32 mark of the opening half when Victor Lorenzo scored off an assist from Donaldo Yanez.
The goal by Lorenzo was as close as the Westies would get as Law added another tally in the second half with 12 minutes to go to extend the margin to 3-1.West Haven held a 17-5 shot advantage in the game, but could not dent the back of the net more than once.
Brian Carew made two saves in the loss for West Haven.
Westies thump Coginchaug
Issa leads WH to 9-1 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 28, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team responded nicely from its first defeat of the year with a 9-1 road victory over Coginchaug Tuesday afternoon. With the win, West Haven improved to 4-1-2 on the season.
Senior Mubarak Issa led the way with three goals, Donaldo Yanez had three assists, and Sebastian Navarro finished with a goal and two assists as the Westies held a 33-3 shot advantage in the contest.
Seniors Holden Axelrod and Wilson Cordova combined on the win, making one save in a dominant West Haven effort.
West Haven took a 5-1 lead at the half as Navarro scored off an assist from Yanez just 5 minutes, 17 seconds in. The Westies increased the margin to 2-0 when Issa scored the first of his two goals 2:17 later off an assist from Rafael Gazcon. When Gazcon scored at the 12:26 mark, West Haven increased its margin to 3-0.
Coginchaug got on the board at the 20:20 mark, but a goal by Issa, assisted by Navarro, and another by Keizer Tandazo off an assist from Yanez put West Haven ahead 5-1 with 7:15 left in the half.
Issa opened the scoring in the second half off an assist from Navarro, before Marcos, Victor Lorenzo, and Jonathan Mendez capped the scoring. Yanez and Marcos assisted on the final two goals.
Amity tops Westies
WH falls 3-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 1, 2021) - The West Haven boys soccer team dropped its second decision of the year with a 3-1 loss against Amity Friday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
The Spartans put the Westies behind early as Diogo Artaza scored 13 minutes, 11 seconds into the contest. Artaza’s goal held up until the Westies knotted the contest 16 minutes later.
Mubarak Issa evened the game for West Haven when he scored at the 29:45 mark off an assist from Donaldo Yanez.
Luca Santin put Amity on top 2-1 just 10:11 later. The Westies battled, but could not get the equalizer. Artaza scored his second of the game with 13:14 left as Amity posted a 3-1 victory.
West Haven held a 13-7 shot advantage in the loss. Brian Carew made five saves for the Westies.
Westies top Sheehan
Issa scores twice in 4-1 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 2, 2021) - After suffering its second loss of the season, the West Haven boys soccer team immediately got back on the winning track.
Led by a pair of goals from Mubarak Issa, West Haven improved to 5-2-2 with a 4-1 victory over Sheehan at Ken Strong Stadium Saturday afternoon. West Haven dominated from the start, outshooting Sheehan 18-5.
Issa allowed the Westies to take control of the contest as he scored twice in the game’s first 24 minutes. Rivadera assisted on Issa’s first goal at the 21:52 mark, before Collin Charon picked up the first of his two assists on a goal by Issa at the 23:11 mark.
The 2-0 lead remained until the game’s final 12 minutes. Victor Lorenzo put the game away with a goal off an assist from Charon with 10:57 left, before Alan Hernandez assisted on a goal by Rivadera with 7:20 to go.
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