Norwich — Setting up for a penalty kick, Norwich Free Academy senior David Hernandez knew what was at stake on Wednesday night.

A goal would go a long way in determining the outcome of the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I boys' soccer game against East Lyme as well as pushing the Wildcats closer to their first regular-season title in the league since 2011.

"That was crucial to winning the game, that's what was going through my head," Hernandez said. "I knew I had to make it."

Hernandez calmly buried a low, hard shot into the left corner with just over eight minutes left in the first half and NFA's sound defense did the rest in a 1-0 victory on Senior Night.

The Wildcats (7-6, 7-1) stormed the field after the final whistle to celebrate the title and pile on goalie Troy Maurer who needed to make only four saves to post the shutout.

"It's really incredible," Hernandez said of capturing the title. "We have a lot of potential this season but we really haven't been showing it. It's good to come out here and put on a show for all of our fans. ... Four years I've been waiting for this. I'm glad that I got to do it as as senior on my Senior Night."

Both teams played hard in the Division I showdown but lacked consistency and crisp execution. Prime scoring opportunities were in short supply. Defenses dominated.

"I was expecting a little more technical game, more exciting," NFA coach Robert Briones said. "Both of them were showing too much respect for each other. Both teams were looking for who would make a mistake first."

East Lyme (7-8, 6-2), which lost the first meeting last month by a 4-2 score, blinked first and made a momentum-turning mistake.

Late in the first half, junior Alex Jacobik's long throw-in sailed into the box and hit the raised arm of an East Lyme defender. The officials quickly called a penalty and Hernandez delivered.

"Unfortunately, a hand ball in the box turns the tide," East Lyme coach Paul Christensen said. "I think NFA had maybe one or two shots in the second half. Not that we had a ton, but I think we had a couple more dangerous ones. ... We just didn't finish.

"I was real pleased with the effort that we put forth, because I felt we controlled good chunks of that game and kind of shut down their offense a lot."

East Lyme's best chance came in the opening minutes. A hustling Jacobik recovered to make a goal-saving play, clearing the ball away from in the front of an open goal. Later in the half, East Lyme senior William Luzi headed a corner kick cross just over the bar. Zach Vandale also sent a header too high in the second half.

Maurer and his hard-working back line continually cleared away crosses that fell into the danger zone. The majority of East Lyme attempts were either from a distance or blocked.

If not for goalie Ian Peitzsch, the Vikings would have trailed 2-0 at the break. A skilled Hernandez cleverly dribbled through the defense and broke in alone, but Peitzsch alertly charged out to block the close-range attempt.

Beating East Lyme for the title added an extra significance to the win, especially for the NFA seniors.

"I've been here for 20 years and when I came East Lyme dominated," Briones said. "Then, little by little, we started competing and it became a tradition between the two of us. Then Bacon joined us in the last few years. ... The last divisional title we won was in 2011. That's the year we won the ECC tournament, too, against Montville.

"Like I told the seniors, 'don't miss an opportunity to make history. You can leave a legacy for this school that they will remember.' "

g.keefe@theday.com