[VIDEO] Cheshire Boys Soccer Settles for Tie with Amity

The Cheshire boys soccer team possessed the ball for long stretches against Amity-Woodbridge Wednesday afternoon at Cheshire High.

When it came to turning that advantage into scoring opportunities, the Rams were frustrated time after time by their Southern Connecticut Conference rival. The Spartans played a contrasting long ball game of kick-and-run.

That's why it was particularly frustrating when Amity was the first to break through for a score with 8:03 to play. Cheshire's intensity suddenly increased and the Rams pressed hard for the equalizer in the final five minutes.

They got it from junior Nick Berardi with under 2 minutes to play on a long shot, almost from the right corner, that seemingly had no angle but somehow found the left side of the net just inside the goal post for a 1-1 Housatonic Division tie.

Still, it was almost little consolation for Rams head coach Artur Branco who fully expected to win this game.

"We lacked a lot of things today," Branco said. "From direction to intention to purpose. It was a very frustrating game to watch as a coach. Because we work during the week to get ready for these games. We have to rectify a lot of things because this is not good.

"This is a game we should have won. We shouldn't have been losing this game until we were finally able to tie. It shouldn't have happened. The level of play just wasn't there today in all aspects, defensively and offensively."

Though Cheshire kept possession for most of the first half, senior goalie Nick Velleca was forced to make an acrobatic save on an Amity opportunity with 13:36 left that came on a header off a corner kick.

Cheshire's Michael Ranando had a good chance with 12:55 left but couldn't convert, and Berardi's free kick directly on goal just missed with 5:30 left as the half ended scoreless.

Velleca made an outstanding diving save on a breakaway by Amity's Joseph Guerra with 15:10 left in the game.

"It was a defensive error," Velleca said. "We were on our line, our defense was staggered, which caused (Guerra) to be onside. Once he got through, it was just me and him, so I came out, cut down the angle and tipped it wide from the corner."

But it was Guerra who struck for the Spartans' goal about 7 minutes later off a header after Elliott Demelier sent a long shot into the goal mouth from the right corner. Velleca had virtually no defense in front of him.

Cheshire played without one of its key players, senior midfielder Arman Karbassioon, who was out for unspecified medical reasons. He will be re-evaluated Friday before he can be cleared to play.

"Armon is our engine. Without him, we just can't go," Velleca said.  "You saw it on the field today, the boys went out there played hard, played good but without (Armon) we don't run properly. He brings a different aspect to the game that nobody else can.

"He controls the pace of the game. He distributes tremendously. He's a very technical and smart player. It was definitely a loss not having him out there today."

After the Amity goal, the Rams' energy level and urgency went way up, finally resulting in Berardi's improbable score that he called "lucky."

"A tie is a loss to us," Branco said. "With all respect to Amity, a game at home, you've got to win. In the Housy, any point lost is tough. In the end, we will end up paying for it. Looking to history, teams that lose points, particularly at home, don't win the Housy."

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