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The Spectator
Missed Opportunity
Soccer nearly pulls off historic upset
by David Biel '13Sports Writer
November 06, 2009
Despite their successful regular season, the Continentals were edged out in the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament by Hobart. This was their second consecutive loss to the school, and in both games they got edged out by one goal. This time they were shutout 1-0 in a heartbreaking effort in which both defenses played well. After a flawless first half, the tie was broken in the fifty-fourth minute.
Entering the game at Union College two weeks ago, the Hamilton men's soccer team knew they were on the right road at the right time. After an inconsistent September, the Continentals had won their last five games and were in a comfortable position to return to the four-team Liberty League playoffs after missing it last year for the first time in more than five years. But with three road games remaining in the regular season, including two against potential playoff teams, the Continentals knew better than to look past those games.
Hamilton continued their winning ways with their last three regular season games, going 2-1 in that span and earning a spot in the playoffs. The team finished the regular season with a record of 9-4-1, its tenth straight season with a winning record.
Coming into the Union game, the Continentals knew they would face a tough matchup, as the Dutchmen were also vying for the playoffs. It wasn't exactly pretty, with rainy conditions throughout and little offense from both teams, but Hamilton was able to squeak out a 1-0 win on the road.
The only goal of the game came in the fourty-first minute of play, when defender Marcus Dormanen '10 scored a second chance goal. Despite only facing two shots the entire game, goalie Eric Boole '13 continued his stellar first season, posting his fifth shutout of the year.
Hamilton had no time to rest after the win, as they had to travel to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to face Skidmore the next day. Skidmore entered the game with a record of 6-7, looking to pick up an upset win and reach .500 on the season. In the end, Skidmore gave Hamilton all they could take, but the Continentals pulled out a 2-1 win after two overtimes.
Hamilton struggled early on, when Skidmore scored on Boole in the twenty-sixth minute. In the middle of the second half, the Continentals finally answered back when midfielder Hennie Bosman '13 knocked in a goal to tie the game.
Bosman had an especially solid game throughout, getting three of Hamilton's six total shots on goal. After almost 40 more minutes of excellent defensive play from both teams, Hamilton midfielder Jon Sanford '11 won the game in the second overtime, scoring on a header off a corner kick from defender Bennett Weinerman '11, giving Hamilton its ninth win of the season.
In Hamilton's regular season finale last Saturday, the Continentals took on Hobart in their third straight road game. Adding onto the significance of the game was the fact that the winner would get the number two seed of the Liberty League tournament and earn a home game in the first round of the playoffs. It was evenly played for the entire game, but Hobart was able to come out on top at the end, edging Hamilton 2-1.
After a Hobart score in the twenty-seventh minute, Sanford tied it up in the beginning of the second half, with his eighth goal of the season. The score remained tied at one until Hobart's Michael Moulton scored a breakaway goal with less than 10 minutes remaining, handing Hamilton its first loss in over a month.
Regardless of their losses at the end of the season, the team has had a fantastic year, and they hope to build upon their success in the post-season.