Unexpected outcome for East Lyme

There was jubilation and a little disbelief after East Lyme shutout RHAM, 2-0, in the Class L boys soccer semifinals Wednesday night.
The jubilation was obvious, the disbelief was the fact that the Vikings had qualified for the Class L state championship game Saturday against Wethersfield.
"(At the) beginning of the year, I couldn't envision being here at this poin tin time, "East Lyme coach Paul Christensen said.
"The way these kids have worked so hard this year, the character they have had overcoming adversity, they've found different ways to win and that's a testament to this team. It's a runthat we didn't expect," he added.
East Lyme scored the goal it needed in the first half when Dom Cassarino headed in a cross from Phil Ziegler. After that, it was up to the defense led by players like senior Joe Wawrzynski.
"We're pretty happy, we did what we could," Wawrzynski said, "They had some good players out there, they're fast and we had to stay behind them and not let them get by us."
The Vikings then received an unexpected gift from the Sachems as an own goal early in the second half sealed the deal for East Lyme and sent the Vikings to their second state title game since 2002.
Back then, East Lyme finished in a tie with Wethersfield to end as co-champions. Wethersfield will again be on the other side of the field come Saturday in New Britain.
"Wethersfield is a tremendous team with a history of success, but (East Lyme) kids have one too, we're no slouch," Christensen said. "It's a great feeling to get this program back to that level."
The one concern the Vikings will have going into Saturday's match is the health of leading scorer Phil Ziegler. The junior banged up his knee late against RHAM and was brought to the bus on a golf cart. Christensen is hoping that Ziegler will be able to give it a go against Wethersfield.