Calhoun avenges only two losses

Colts in county finals for first time since 2009

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Calhoun entered the Nassau Class AA boys’ soccer playoffs with a conference title in tow and only two blemishes on its record — two-goal losses to defending county champion Hicksville and upstart Oceanside.

The third-seeded Colts, in dramatic fashion, avenged both defeats and are one win away from their first county championship since 2001. Their thrilling 2-1 victory over Hicksville in the semifinals at Cold Spring Harbor on Monday night moved them into the title game against No. 1 Massapequa on Wednesday after presstime at Hofstra.

“It was a very emotional night,” Calhoun coach Jim Cantley said. “Both teams had plenty of scoring chances.

“We fought through some injuries and ended up using 17 guys,” he noted. “That just adds to the feeling of a special team victory.” 

Five days after eliminating sixth-seeded Oceanside on sophomore Ryan Hilke’s overtime goal, 2-1, Calhoun earned another dogpile celebration thanks to goals by seniors Eric Stewart and Joe Thomann, and stellar work in the cage from senior keeper David Futterman. Thomann’s header with 21 minutes remaining off a corner kick from senior Michael Harten held up as the winning goal in a 2-1 decision over the second-seeded Comets.

Stewart opened the scoring in the 24th minute, but the Colts’ lead was short-lived as Hicksville got the equalizer less than two minutes later off the foot of junior John Rojas. But, working behind a steady defense led by junior sweeper James King, Futterman (nine saves) proved a brick wall thereafter.

“David made some key saves, just as he has all season,” Cantley said. 

The game was postponed from Sunday night and moved from its original site of Adelphi University due to weather. The other semifinal between Massapequa and Syosset, which ended with the Chiefs winning on penalty kicks, was halted earlier Sunday with 31:07 to go.

“We bussed all the way to Adelphi and had to turn around and come home,” Cantley said. “The kids were pumped to play, but the weather didn’t cooperate. They were angry, but they hung out together for the rest of the night and were able to channel that same energy into Monday.”

Calhoun improved to 11-2 overall and upped its winning streak to five. Its last loss came on a rainy Sept. 28 night, 2-0, at Oceanside. The teams met again in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs Oct. 26, and the Colts flipped the outcome with what Cantley described as “all heart.”

With time ticking down on Calhoun’s season, Harten converted a pass from Stewart with three minutes remaining in regulation to knot up the Sailors. Futterman made a dynamic save, his last of nine, on a high shot early in OT to set the stages for Hilke’s heroics. Stewart also assisted on the winner.

“They never stopped believing,” Cantley said. 

The Colts, who in addition to 2001 (under Cantley) also captured Nassau and Long Island crowns in 1975, are in the finals for the first time since coming up short against Hicksville seven years ago.