Waterford — Even after an intense 1-0 loss to Bacon Academy on Wednesday, Waterford High School boys' soccer coach Joe Mendonca Jr. was still willing to welcome the Bobcats to the division.

"More competition," Mendonca said of the newly alligned Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II. "It's not a league of two; it's a league of two, three, four, five teams. It's a lot more competitive. I embrace the competition."

Bacon, along with Woodstock Academy, last year's ECC tournament finalists, joined the Division II crowd along with Killingly, Stonington, Montville and Waterford, members of the ECC Medium Division last year. Both new teams edged the division's old guard Wednesday night, with Woodstock topping last year's Medium champ Montville 2-1.

Bacon toppled Waterford on an own goal with 27 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the second half when Connor Francis smashed a direct kick from the left corner that ricocheted off a Waterford defender into the net.

Each team returned two Class M all-state selections, midfielder Sam Pipicelli and forward Liam McLoughlin from Bacon and midfielders Dan Castelpoggi and Steve Lavoie from Waterford. Bacon is coming off an appearance in last year's Class M title game and has two state championship berths to its credit in the last four years.

Still, Waterford dominated play in the first half and outshot the Bobcats 16-8 overall, a sneak peek into the competitive nature of the division.

"There's a lot of talent in this division. Every game matters," said Bacon coach Andrew Storton, whose team gave him a few fits. "They had us on our back foot for much of first half. It was a great matchup between two good teams.

"... Stephen (Lavoie) is a great kid who battles hard and Dan (Castelpoggi), these are kids I've watched now for four years."

Storton said Bacon was unable to break through against Waterford's pair of holding midfielders in the first half, but the Bobcats switched strategies to go "man-for-man in the midfield" in the second half.

Waterford had the first chance to score in the second half, as Castelpoggi was tripped going to the goal and the Lancers received a direct kick that was received by the defense.

Once Bacon went up a goal, however, Mendonca, whose team continued to create opportunities, began to press, sending several scoring chances either wide of the goal or directly to Bacon keeper Luke Sanford (5 saves).

Mendonca wasn't upset with the own goal, which he called unfortunate.

"It was one of those hard efforts and a quick redirect," Mendonca said.

"... We definitely created chances. It was our focus to create chances. As you go down a goal, there becomes a sense of urgency and the game opens up a lot more. But you've got to have a sense of urgency and a composure, as well."

Waterford next plays at Montville at 11 a.m. Saturday, with both the division's former longstanding royals at 0-1 in the ECC and looking to get in the league race. Waterford also faces a difficult stretch beginning later in the month with games against Shoreline champ Old Lyme and ECC Division I opponents East Lyme and Norwich Free Academy in a three-day span.

Mendonca said Bacon was always on the Lancers' schedule, even when the two were in different divisions.

"Last year you had Montville, Killingly, Stonington was on their way," Mendonca said. "That's always the goal, see if you can get the championship, in your conference and then represent yourself well in the state."

"That's the end goal," Storton said of trying to get Bacon back to the state championship game once again. "But you have to take it each game at a time."

v.fulkerson@theday.com