Calhoun falls in penalty kicks

Thrilling doesn’t even begin to describe the battle between No. 12 Calhoun and No. 13 Freeport in the outbracket game of the Nassau County Class AA boys’ soccer playoffs on Oct. 22.

After battling to a 1-1 tie through 80 minutes of regulation and having the score hold up through 20 minutes of the first overtime period and another 10 minutes of sudden death overtime, the two teams battled through penalty kicks. And even then, the score was tied after the initial five rounds, with each team converting three attempts. The Red Devils ultimately came out on top in the third round of sudden death penalty kicks, when Michael Martinez converted. “We gave the fans a great show,” Calhoun coach Jim Cantley said. “The stands were packed. We went to eight [penalty] shots and it was exciting.”

The Colts (5-6-4 overall) were keyed by a defensive effort that technically kept Freeport off the board in regulation, as the Red Devils’ only goal was also scored by Martinez on a penalty kick in the second half. The unit, led by senior sweeper James Forte, senior stopper Brian Hendrickson and a quartet of outside backs who were rotated in (seniors Justin Katz and Steven Molinaro and juniors Ryan Elliott and Dylan Jainchill), had a tough task in limiting opportunities for a fleet Freeport attack. Hendrickson had a big hand in winning the 50-50 balls and also marking any oncoming Red Devils heading down the middle of the field.

“Their offensive players are very fast,” Calhoun coach Jim Cantley said. “We had to make sure we didn’t get beat. We didn’t take chances and did a good job keeping them in front of us. The defense was definitely bend but don’t break.”

The Colts controlled possession for much of the game thanks to the efforts of their midfielders, senior Stephen Dobre and juniors Joe Thomann and Michael Harten (four goals, six assists) in the middle flanked by seniors Eddie Krezminski and Troy Wade on the outside. Dobre, in fact, used his head in helping create the first goal of the game. He redirected a crossing pass with a strong header that was saved by Freeport goalie Henry Fernandez but pushed across the goalline when senior forward Eric Stewart, who led the team with 13 goals, kicked in the rebound. “[One of] our strengths was the midfield,” Cantley said. “Most of the time we had the possession against teams.”

Just to make the playoffs, Calhoun needed wins in its last two games, and accomplished just that, knocking off Great Neck South (3-1 on Oct. 16) and Long Beach (3-0 on Oct. 14). Stewart, the team’s leading goal scorer, accounted for all of the goals in the regular-season finale and also had a goal against the Marines. Hendrickson and Krezminski also scored against Long Beach.

“The game against Great Neck South was our senior farewell game and it put us into the playoffs,” Cantley said. “It was very exciting. The guys had a great season.”