HVRHS soccer streak shattered by one Litchfield goal

FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) girls varsity soccer saw its dreams of a perfect season slip away before a crowd of 70 rapt spectators on a balmy afternoon at home on Monday, Oct. 21. 

The Litchfield Cowgirls bested the Lady Mountaineers, 1-0, and broke the eight-game winning streak that had Housy fans eagerly hoping for a perfect season. 

HVRHS (8-1-0) still leads the Berkshire League standings with an .889 win percentage, but the loss means that Nonnewaug (8-1-1) is nipping at their heels, while Litchfield solidified its third-place status.

 Earlier in the season, Litchfield had tested Housatonic more than any other team this year, losing 3-4 to the Mountaineers at home on Sept. 19. This time, however, the Cowgirls came pumped up for a win. 

The Mountaineers started strong and dominated possession and play for much of the first half. Mountaineer offense pressured Litchfield, allowing Housy a series of corner kicks expertly lofted by sophomore Tori Dodge. A Cowgirl break about 12 minutes into the half, however, sent the ball deep into Mountaineer territory, and a tangle of bodies in the penalty area tied up Housy goalkeeper Maggie Bickford, opening the left side of the net for Litchfield striker Christina Orsini, a senior, to score assisted by Allie Davenport.

Undaunted, HVRHS rallied soon after, and a powerful strike from Sydney Segalla taken from 20 yards out had the crowd gasping as it struck and rebounded against the Cowgirl crossbar, inches away from evening up the score.  At the half, Housy keeper Bickford had made five saves on Litchfield shots. Molly Lennon, a Litchfield senior, was outstanding in goal, thwarting everything Housatonic threw at her.

Litchfield proved dominant through much of the second half, maintaining ball possession and fending off Mountaineer thrusts through often-physical play, agile recovery of mis-hit balls, and exceptional speed. Litchfield’s midfield repeatedly fed striker Jeremina Prenoveau on the left, yet Housy defenders soundly neutralized her attempts. 

HVRHS junior Neve O’Neill provided ongoing pressure on the left, while Tori Dodge attacked avidly on the right. As the clock ran down into single digits, Sydney Segalla, who had been double- and triple-teamed throughout the match by Litchfield defenders, broke through and headed unobstructed toward the Cowgirl goal. The whistle blew, however, as referees called an offensive foul and gave a free kick to Litchfield. 

A minute later, Mountaineer co-captain Genevieve Bushey was knocked to the ground on a Litchfield foul, and almost immediately after, Sydney Segalla was tripped and briefly left the field. No cards were shown by the referee, however. Then it was over, with Litchfield gleeful and long faces on the Mountaineer side.

The drama continued on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 3:45 p.m. (after this issue went to press), with the Housatonic women having the home-field advantage against visiting Gilbert, so far 0-10-0 for the season. Will they redeem themselves after Monday’s loss and continue their drive for the title? 

With Lewis Mills, Housy’s recent arch-enemy, now playing in a different league, the Lady Mountaineers still have a strong shot at winning their conference with six games left to go. 

Their biggest hurdle will be Nonnewaug on Nov. 11, a team still smarting from their 0-2 defeat at the feet of the Mountaineers and likely looking to equalize.