A state college rivalry in the making

WATERBURY

Ithink this might be the beginning of a beautiful rivalry. Two colleges only about 30 miles away played their first men’s soccer game in 12 years Wednesday afternoon at LaMoy Field. The match between Post University and the University of Bridgeport ended in a hard-fought 1-1 tie that showed why they should have played again much sooner.

“I’ve always said it would make sense to play these guys from right down the road,” said Purple Knights head coach Peter Doneit.

For Post, the problem had been that the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games fill up most of its schedule and the nonconference slots have been traditionally filled with powerhouses like Franklin Pierce, Southern New Hampshire, AIC and Adelphi.

That problem has been resolved, though, since Bridgeport joined the CACC last spring after spending the previous two decades in the East Coast Conference. Post, the CACC’s only school in Connecticut since it joined in 1987, now has an opponent that can become a bitter See RIVALS , Page 10A

STEVE BARLOW

Post’s Gentian Selimi, left, and Bridgeport’s Luis Trapp get tied up pursuing the ball during men’s college soccer action at LaMoy Field in Waterbury on Wednesday. The teams tied, 1-1. More photos at rep-am.com.

STEVEN VALENTI REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

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rival in all sports, a Division II version of Yale vs. Harvard or Ohio State vs. Michigan.

“I love that we have a Route 8 darby,” said Post head coach Ted Haley, using the British term for a soccer archrival. “I’ve talked with our athletic director, Ronnie Palmer, about coming up with some kind of a cup across all sports we can play for every year. Obviously, we didn’t do it this year, but it could be something for the future.”

The teams’ nonconference basketball games have been sizzlers in recent years. In soccer, the ingredients for a rivalry are even meatier. Bridgeport was one of the top men’s soccer teams in the ECC for years, while Post has won the CACC three of the past four seasons as Haley built his club into the class of the league.

Longtime friends, Haley and Doneit recruit similarly with international players filling the roster along with a few Connecticut kids.

“Post has always been the top CACC team. As the newbie in the league, we wanted this game,” Doneit said.

The CACC standings currently see Wilmington and Bridgeport (8-3-3, 6-1-2 league) sharing first place with 20 points apiece, although Wilmington hasn’t lost in the league yet. Post (8-3-2, 5-1-2) is one point behind third-place Jefferson in fourth.

The Eagles, who trail in the alltime series with Bridgeport, 1-5-2, could’ve jumped into second place if a last-minute barrage of shots had produced a goal. But Bridgeport keeper Clement Anet rejected a close shot by Post’s Aritz Uriate Alonso with a halfminute to go, Sergio Sanchez’s header on the rebound richocheted off the post and Nicholas Anagnostiadis was denied by Anet on a point-blank blast with under 30 seconds to go.

The Purple Knights took a 1-0 lead on Henry Greiner’s successful penalty kick midway through the first half. Post assumed control after that and finally notched the equalizer when Francisco Sousa slammed in a pass from Gentian Selimi 18 minutes into the second half. Selimi made a run into the box, then fed teammate Demi Iljazi, who fed it back to Selimi for the quick pass to Sousa.

Post outshot the visitors, 16-9, and Anet made seven saves to four by the Eagles’ Soren Jensen. The Purple Knights were called for 18 fouls to Post’s nine.

Having graduated their leading scorer, the top assists man in the nation and an All-CACC midfielder from last year’s squad, the Eagles are molding a new lineup this fall.

“We’re retooling. I don’t like to call it rebuilding. I think we have potential, but we’ve got to get it together in October,” Haley said. “We’ve got to create more offense for the full 90 minutes and not just spells.”

Reach Steve Barlow at sbarlow@ rep-am.com.

Finn Lanser of Post, right, heads the ball as Jakob Reinhard of Bridgeport closes in Wednesday in Waterbury.

STEVEN VALENTI REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN