Bad day is good day for Saints

It wasn't exactly the most enjoyable day to go out and watch a soccer game.
The wind was threatening to make little Mary Poppins out of everyone as it blew umbrellas around and blew rain even into the faces of those who wielded them. It also became a little chilly and on the field- a little slippery.
"It was getting slippery towards the end as we worked on the field," St. Bernard junior Jillian Kowalski said. "There was less and less grass, it was harder to get a grip. The goal area was harder, the corners were harder."
But the Saints, one of the few host local teams to play on this ugly Thursday, were happy with the results as they shutout visiting Gilbert, 1-0, for a berth in the Class S state tournament quarterfinals.
"I told the kids it would probably come down to a set piece," St. Bernard coach Chris Ghiglia said as the weather conditions rendered a passing game almost useless.
Fortunately for St. Bernard, that set piece showed itself in the form of a corner from Kowalski to freshman Caroline Kozlowski who scored her 25th goal of the season 34 minutes into the match.
"It was a brilliant goal," Ghiglia said. "Jillian's crosses, all year, have been excellent and Caroline has been sticking it in the net."
That one goal held up and sends St. Bernard into the quarterfinals on Saturday against another Berkshire Conference team that will have a long drive to Uncasville, Shepaug Valley.
The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday although as Ghiglia surveyed the soggy field Thursday, he wondered aloud if it would be ready for play by then.
Lyman's was not and the Bulldogs game with Montville was moved to Friday at 2 p.m. to be followed by Lyman's boys against Shepaug Valley at 5 p.m. The Bacon Academy Bobcats girls also play Friday against East Catholic, that game was also postponed.