The No. 2 Xavier Black Knights, the reigning SCC champions, just saw their undefeated season vanish in a stunning upset, falling to No. 15 McMahon in a nail-biting 3-2 penalty shootout during the second round of the CIAC Class LL tournament. This wasn’t just any loss for Xavier, it was their first all season, and it has absolutely blown the bracket wide open after an insane first two rounds.
Class LL Brackets Are OFF THE RAILS
Seriously, if you thought Class LL was going to be a straightforward march for the top seeds, you were dead wrong. McMahon, a squad that didn’t even make the FCIAC tournament, somehow found the magic to take down the mighty Xavier. Matthew Chen was the man for McMahon, scoring a goal, dishing an assist, and then coolly burying one of the crucial penalty kicks. Talk about stepping up!
But that wasn’t the only shocker. No. 14 Hamden, who got bounced in the first round of their own SCC tournament, decided the state stage was where they belonged. They took out No. 3 South Windsor, the CCC tournament runner-up, with a clutch 3-2 victory. Now, Hamden rolls into the quarterfinals to face No. 6 Greenwich. Who saw that coming?
Even the first round had some wild moments. No. 25 West Haven, a team that got walloped 6-0 by Xavier earlier in the season, marched onto No. 8 Stamford’s turf and sent the FCIAC tournament runner-up packing with a 3-2 road win. They got eliminated in the second round by NFA, but man, did they shake things up early.
And how about No. 20 Southington? They had a solid 9-3-2 regular season but missed the CCC tournament, yet they were the ones to hand No. 13 Naugatuck their first loss, ending Naugatuck’s hopes of adding a state title to their third straight NVL championship. Southington then ran into the CCC champions Glastonbury and lost 3-0 in the second round, but still, what a way to crash the party.
Even No. 23 Manchester, a team that showed flashes of brilliance all season with ties against Tolland and South Windsor, and a 3-2 win over Glastonbury, pulled off a massive 11-8 penalty kick win against No. 10 Ridgefield in the first round. They eventually fell 3-0 to No. 7 Fairfield Prep in the second round, but they proved their mettle.
Class L Gets Its Own Dose of Drama
Class L wasn’t immune to the upset bug either. No. 15 E.O. Smith, a team with a humble 6-7-3 regular season record, faced off against No. 2 Avon, who boasted an impressive 11-2-3. Despite the record difference, E.O. Smith pulled off a huge 5-3 penalty kick upset in the second round, sending Avon home. That’s a serious statement! E.O. Smith now gets another CCC opponent in No. 7 Middletown. That game is going to be spicy.
And let’s not forget No. 12 Newtown. They didn’t even qualify for their own SWC conference tournament, but they showed up big in the states. They took down No. 5 Newington, the CCC tournament’s No. 2 seed, in a 4-2 penalty shootout. Gabe Marques scored Newtown’s goal in regulation, and Emanuel Orozco came up huge, ensuring the Nighthawks’ improbable run continues.
What’s Next for the CIAC Tournament Chaos?
The first two rounds have delivered pure anarchy, with top seeds crashing out and underdog stories emerging left and right. With the bracket now wide open, every game from here on out is going to be a battle. Keep an eye on Hamden as they travel to No. 6 Greenwich, and E.O. Smith’s showdown with No. 7 Middletown. These upsets prove anything can happen, and the stakes just got even higher for everyone left standing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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