It took less than 17 minutes to determine the outcome of Wednesday’s Class A boys soccer regional.
Section II champion Averill Park scored all of its goals in the first 16:36 of the game to defeat Christian Brothers Academy 3-0 at Colonie Central High School outside Albany.
“They played excellent, I thought,” CBA coach Joe Papaleo said of Averill Park (9-9-1), which reached the .500 mark for the first time all season with Wednesday’s win. “They took what we gave them, and they didn’t give us much in return.”
Mac Hoyt gave the Warriors a quick 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the first half when he led a give-and-go with Josh Lionarons. Hoyt struck a one-touch pass to Lionarons, who was coming down the middle of the field. Lionarons then touched it back to Hoyt, who kicked it past a stunned Mike Smith into the upper portion of the CBA goal.
“It was a beautifully executed give and go, and the goalie never moved,” said Papaleo.
Averill Park’s second goal came off another well-executed play. Hoyt sent a free kick to Owen Nuss in the lower left corner of CBA’s defensive zone. Nuss cut in and crossed the ball to Ben Reinisch, who redirected it past Smith.
Still stunned from the first two goals, CBA’s vaunted defense allowed a third Averill Park goal two minutes later. Lionarons charged after a CBA back pass and got to it before Smith arrived from the penalty box. Lionarons went around Smith and kicked the ball into the empty goal to give the Warriors a large cushion.
“We knew their strength was their counterattack from watching tape of their last game (a 4-1 win over South Glens Falls in the Section II finals),” said Papaleo.
The Brothers spent the remaining time trying to cut into Averill Park’s lead, but every time they had a scoring chance, Warrior goaltender Hunter DuPont was there to make the save. CBA’s best opportunity came midway through the first half when Alex Chrisman’s free kick bounced off DuPont’s hands in front of the Averill Park goal, but DuPont quickly fell on the loose ball before it could be knocked in.
DuPont finished with nine saves for the Warriors, who move on to Saturday’s regional final against the winner of the North Country battle between Section VII’s Peru and Section X’s Franklin Academy.
