Pomperaug wins SWC girls soccer tournament semifinal game after delay due to lights turning off

The SWC girls soccer tournament semifinal was interesting enough between Pomperaug and Newtown, a game decided by penalty kicks. But something else of interest occurred before the PKs took place.

The lights went out at the Pomperaug Sports Complex in Southbury late in regulation.

“The lights were on a timer. They went off right at 9,” Pomperaug girls soccer coach Corrado Perugini said. “We knew it wasn’t a power failure. The scoreboard was on. Everything else was still working.”

Perugini said the game started late, around 7:30 p.m. because the Newtown bus arrived late due to traffic. It took approximately 30 minutes to get the lights back on in full. Players were staying loose and then started to warm up again once the lights started to come back on.

“I know I had a couple kids cramping up before that even happened, so to stop playing doesn’t make that any better,” Perugini said. “I don’t think the fatigue factor was as bad. If you’re playing and you’re tired, to stop and restart, that’s a tough one. And give Newtown credit, it was the same thing for them.”

Regulation and overtime couldn’t decide a winner. Neither could a first round of penalty kicks. No. 2 seed Pomperaug won in the second round of PKs 5-3 to advance to Sunday’s SWC championship game against top seed Notre Dame Prep. The game will begin at 4 p.m. at Western Connecticut State University.

Perugini noted that Pomperaug goalkeeper Madelyn Martino saved five consecutive PKs. 

“We have a great goalie,” Perugini said. “I talked to Maddie at the beginning of the season, ‘I guarantee you will win a couple games for us’ and that was one of them for sure.”

Notre Dame Prep, the defending champion, defeated No. 4 Masuk 4-0 in the semifinals. Notre Dame defeated Pomperaug 2-0 on Sept. 10

“When I heard that (Masuk) score, I was like, ‘Man we are up against it,'” Perugini said. “Right now, my mind is spinning what to do about that, so we will see.”

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This article originally published at Pomperaug wins SWC girls soccer tournament semifinal game after delay due to lights turning off.