Fairfield co-op hockey advances to face familiar foe

Though the Fairfield boys ice hockey was the lower seed, coach Mark Pettorini would not classify his team's first-round Division II state tournament win as an upset.

Fairfield, the No. 13 seed, walked out of Watertown

with a 3-2 win over No. 4 Watertown-Pomperaug, Tuesday night.

"I wouldn't call it an upset," Fairfield coach Mark Pettorini said. "We were very-well prepared. We knew exactly what we were getting from them, and I don't think they knew what they were getting from us."

Fairfield built a 3-1 second-intermission advantage before holding on for the co-op team's first state tournament win in five years.

"It was a tough rink to play in, their crowd is loud," Pettorini said of Watertown's Mays Rink. "It makes Bridgeport look like a palace."

Fairfield will now play Friday at Ingalls Rink in

New Haven at 7 p.m. Fairfield will face a familiar foe, Branford.

Fairfield split two games with the Hornets-- winning 7-3 on Dec. 22 and falling 3-2 on Feb. 23.

Fairfield will meet a familiar face too in Branford's coach Adolph Brink. Brink was the last Fairfield coach to win a state tournament game-- he guided the co-op team to the state finals in 2008.

Pettorini was Brink's assistant for six years before taking over after the 2008-09 season and believes there is an advantage in familiarity.

"I know what is coming our way too," Pettorini said.

Though his club lacks Branford's state-tournament experience -- the Hornets were a state finalist last year and have reached the DII semis two of Brink's three years --

Pettorini feels his club can compete.

"Are we experienced at Yale? No," Pettorini said. "But, they have that hunger for a state championship."

ppickens@bcnnew.com; twitter.com/Pat_Pickens