Title Eludes Knights
The HCS boys soccer team's magical season ended today after 95 minutes and 10 seconds of some of the finest soccer payed this season, as the Emerald Knights lost to Chazy 1-0 in double overtime of the state Class D title game at Middletown High School.
At the 9:50 mark of the second overtime, Chazy had a direct kick. The ball went up in in the air and Chazy's Jordan Barriere pushed it in.
It was only the Knights' second loss of a season that ended with the team marching through the sectionals, regional and Saturday's semi-final game. They ended with a 19-2-1 record.
"Keep your heads up," Coach Brian Latella told his team after the game. "I want you to be proud of all that you accomplished this year."
Sunday's game pitted Hamilton against an opponent as fast and as athletic as they were. During regulation, each team had several solid offensive opportunities, but couldn't score. Chazy had a goal nullified by an offsides call.
And, both defenses kept the game nail-biting close. Hamilton's goal keeper Kinnon Nolan-Finke (in photo) showed why the Knights won most of their games by shutouts this year. He had several key saves, including several he went up to deflect over the net.
It also was one of the more physical games of the year. Hamilton's Joe Taranto went down hard several times on Sunday, and the Knights' offensive threats Drew Thompson and Dan Kraynak always had two defenders on them any time they had the ball.
Each team received a yellow card.
The game was a reversal of the 2008 championship when Hamilton beat Chazy in the finals.
At the banquet for the teams during the final four weekend, it was announced that Kraynak had once again been named to the small schools all-state team.
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