Never before has the Bishop Grimes boys soccer team earned a Section III championship — but the Cobras have a chance to alter that history for good.
Thanks to last Thursday’s 3-2 victory over top seed Frankfort-Schuyler at New Hartford High School in the Class C semifinals, Grimes advanced to the title game against Cooperstown, who took out Bishop Ludden 3-1 in the other semifinal.
This was no longer the anonymous Cobra teams of the past. Grimes, the no. 5 seed, had already survived two playoff rounds, ripping Mohawk 4-0, then ending the reign of defending champion Fabius-Pompey in a shoot-out.
Now came Frankfort-Schuyler, a top seed from the Center State Conference with a 14-2-1 mark, though it might not have come against the same kind of competition the Cobras faced in the OHSL Patriot division.
Playing in snow, wind and cold temperatures, the Cobras did not back away, pushing to a 2-1 halftime lead on the Maroon Knights. And though both sides would convert in the second half, Grimes stayed out in front.
Nick Quigley put in two of Grimes’ goals, with David Firenze adding one goal and one assist. Pat Magunga also got an assist. Frankfort-Schuyler took twice as many shots, but Matt Veil continued his superb work in the net, recording 11 saves.
