HCS Boys Soccer Team 'Found a Way to Win' 20 Times This Season

RFH 2010, Cover Stories, HCS Boys Soccer

Fri, Nov 25, 2011

"Good teams find a way to win."

That was the mantra for the HCS boys soccer team this season, repeated by Coach Brian Latella from the start of the pre-season in the middle of August until the final day of a long and successful season that saw the Knights bring home their fourth state championship.

The Emerald Knights found a way to win 20 times this year, including seven times in the post season. That compares to only three times this very good team did not find a way to win; two of those were losses to Clinton, the team that eventually went on to a 20-1 record before losing in the state Class B state semi-finals.

Hamilton's only other loss of the year was a bit of a mystery. HCS lost to Holland-Patent 3-1 in the championship of the Optimists Tournament. It was the first time in four years the Knights did not hang onto the Optimists Cup. Holland Patent finished with a record of 15-3 in the Tri-Valley 2 League, but was the only team to score three goals on the Knights this year.

Another curious -- and at times, dangerous -- match-up for HCS this season was with Old Forge. The two teams met three times this year and HCS won all of those meetings. But, none were easy or pleasant. Oddly, HCS opened the 2011 season beating Old Forge 3-1 at home and closed the regular season at Old Forge beating the Eskimos, yes, 3-1.

It was in the waning moments of that game that freshman starter Ben Knecht took a shot that broke his leg, something that was fresh in the minds of the Knights when the two teams met in the post-season.

In the regular season, HCS had a record of 13-3; eight of those wins were shutouts. And, the Emerald Knights outscored opponents 48-11 in 16 games. Talk about finding a way to win ...

Post-Season

On the opening day of summer drills, Latela told his squad that the season was actually divided in thirds, each with its own focus:

Pre-Season
Regular Season
Post Season

The Knights seemed to do just about everything right in the first two "seasons" to be successful in the third.

HCS began sectional play meeting an old foe they hadn't seen in the regular season: Poland, who they cruised past 3-1 at home. Hamilton beat Immaculate Heart Central 1-0 to advance to the Section III Class D-1 title against a strong Cincinnatus team and came home with a 1-0 win and its fourth banner in four years and ninth in the history of the program. (HCS won five consecutive sectional banners from '94 to '98.)

In a perverse twist, so many teams qualified for the Section III Class D tournament that the Knights had to once again play Old Forge -- winners of the D-2 bracket -- in a super-sectional match-up. Hamilton won 2-0. In that game, Sam Owens wore a t-shirt under his jersey on which was written, "This one is for Knecht."

The award for most bizarre post-season game of 2011 goes to the Knight's game vs. Cherry Valley-Springfield, a powerhouse Section IV champ from just up Rte. 20. Snow was falling during warm-ups and increased steadily so that officials stopped play halfway through the second period. As the two teams sat in their locker rooms, a tractor plowed the sidelines and the goal areas of the field. When play resumed, CVS skidded through the motions and the Knights were central region champs again.

Then it was on to Middletown, just as it was last year, where HCS faced two powerful and physical opponents.

Senior Drew Thompson scored the game's only goal in the second half to beat Ft. Ann 1-0 and senior Devin Askew scored in the last five minutes of regulation to clinch the Knights second state title in four years, beating Chazy 1-0.

In the huddle just before the start of the title match against Chazy, Latella told the Knights they were the best team in the state and to simply play together. They did and proved him right.

Hamilton ended the post season winning seven games, six by shutout. They outscored their opponents 10-1.

So, this "good team" ended up with:

a sectional title (two actually);
a regional title;
a state championship and sportsmanship award;
a 20-3 overall record;
15 total shutouts;
and outscored all opponents 57-12.

And, for Latella, the season ran his total number of wins at HCS to 136.

2011 At A Glance

Date	Opponent	Location	Outcome	Score	Notes
Sept. 6	Old Forge	Home	W	3-1
Sept. 8	Sherburne-Earlville	Home	W	6-0
Sept. 10	Holland Patent	Home	L	3-1
Sept. 20	Canastota	Away	W	4-0
Sept. 24	Fabius-Pompey	Home	W	2-0
Sept. 26	Clinton	Away	L	2-0
Sept. 28	Mt. Markham	Away	W	3-1
Sept. 20	Waterville	Home	W	4-0
Oct. 4	Canastota	Home	W	6-0
Oct. 6	Sherburne-Earlville	Away	W	1-0
Oct. 8	Waterville	Away	W	1-0
Oct. 12	Mt. Markham	Home	W	5-2
Oct. 14	Clinton	Home	W	1-0
Oct. 18	Old Forge	Away	W	3-1
	llion	Away	W	2-0
2	Sauquoit	Away	W	6-1	Sauquoit Tournament Champions
	Post Season
Oct. 28	Poland	Home	W	3-1	Section III Class D-1 Quarterfinals
Nov. 2	Immaculate Heart Central	CBA	W	1-0	Section III Class D-1 Semifinas
Nov. 5	Cincinnatus	Chttenango	W	1-0	Section III Class D-1 Championship
Nov. 8	Old Forge	Sauquoit	W	2-0	Section III Class D-1 & D-2 Title
Nov. 11	Cherry Valley-Springfield	Morrisville	W	1-0	Regional Championship
Nov. 19	Ft. Ann	Middletown	W	1-0	State Class D Semifinals
Nov. 20	Chazy	Middletown	W	1-0	State Class D Finals

2011 Individual Statistics

Player	Goals	Assists	Points
Devin Askew	14	6	34
Noah Fry	1	1	3
Sam Hale	3	5	11
Brent Harris	0	1	1
Chris Jackowski	2	3	7
Charlie Jerome	1	1	3
Rob Keever	2	0	4
Ben Knecht	1	4	6
Sam Owens	13	10	36
Barney Prince	1	1	3
Branden Thomas	1	1	3
Drew Thompson	18	9	45