PURCHASE -- An unlucky last-second bounce ended the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team's season with a 1-0 loss Tuesday night in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A regional game at SUNY Purchase.
Perennial state powerhouse Byram Hills, from Section 1, scored the game's only goal with one second remaining after the ball bounced off the head of an EFA player who was trying to clear the play, then trickled into the net."You couldn't write a script for it. It's unbelievable," EFA head coach Derek Hamilton said.
"The referee came over to the time table and said there was one second left. We kicked the ball in and it was over."
The loss ended the season for the Section 4 champion Blue Devils (11-7-1). Byram Hills (16-2-3), which has a 97-8-8 record, four sectional titles and a state championship over the last five seasons, advances to face Section 9 champion Goshen in a state quarterfinal game Friday or Saturday.
Byram Hills is ranked sixth in the state in Class A by the New York State Sports Writers Association. EFA is ranked 13th.
"We were chasing the match for much of the game," Hamilton said. "Byram was one of the best Class A teams I've ever seen. Tactically we employed a game plan that worked to perfection. The kids played fantastic. I couldn't be more proud of them. It was just unlucky circumstances that led to their goal."
The fact that Byram Hills' only score came on an EFA own goal said much about the defensive effort of the Blue Devils, who limited the Bobcats to six legitimate shots on goal, all of which were denied by Academy goalie Luke Ford.
"We're one of the only high school teams I know of to play strictly zonal," Hamilton said. "The kids covered each other's backs all game with secondary defense and it worked like magic today."
Academy was limited to two shots on goal. The Devils' best opportunity came after Kail Burfield's feed to Alex Varkatzas led to a breakaway that was stopped by the Bobcats' goalkeeper.
Early in the game, EFA lost junior Dakota Yerkes to a chest injury after he collided with a Byram Hills player on a 50-50 ball.
Yerkes, who scored the winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Johnson City in the Section 4 Class A final, was taken to a hospital in White Plains for treatment.
Saturday's victory gave EFA its second sectional championship in five seasons and only the third in team history. The Blue Devils fought back for the title after starting the season 4-6.
"We had lost five in a row at one point. I said to the kids, 'We're this close to turning it around,' " Hamilton said. "They kind of put it together and took off as a team there. Alex was scoring all the goals, but it was a complete team effort every single match."
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Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:00 AM
Boys soccer regionals: Byram Hills wins 1-0 on own goal in final seconds
Kevin Kurcharski of Elmira Free Academy tapped the ball into his team's net with four seconds left, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 victory.
"Jon Berry played me the ball and I looked up and knew people would be running into it near the box," Brazda said. "Luckily for us they got a touch on it. It's a heartbreaking situation but amazing for our team."
Throughout the game, the Blue Devils had played great defense, using their flat in the back style of play and zone coverage to keep the Bobcats from scoring.
"We played 80 minutes and had our chances," Elmira Free Academy coach Derek Hamilton said. "Our defense kind of faltered at the worst part. But 79 minutes and 56 seconds of defense I'll take any day."
The Bobcats used their section title win against Somers over the weekend, their fourth championship in five years and 12th overall, as a boost for Tuesday's game.
"It was a totally different game today," Allen said. "But the win against Somers was big for our confidence and prepared us for Elmira Free Academy.'
As the clocked ticked away, it was assumed by both coaches that the regional semifinal winner would be decided in overtime.
"We were thinking about the overtime speech we were going to make, talking about the finals last year where it was a similar game, but Brazda came through for us again."
Byram Hills' Jackson Mann controlled the middle of the field, playing a full game Tuesday compared to the usual 40-50 minutes he played during the regular season.
Mann received help from centerbacks Eli Brodlie and Andy Murphy.
Elmira Free Academy senior and class valedictorian Kevin Kurcharski, who will be attending Cornell next year, was devastated after the game but was told by Hamilton to keep his head up.
"We came in expecting a tough game," Kurcharski said. "It was a tough way to lose no matter who you're playing against."
Added Hamilton: "Bad luck happens, and it happened to our senior, one of our best players, and without him in the back we probably are not even at the point to begin with."
Byram Hills will play Goshen of Section 9 in a regional final Friday or Saturday in Middletown.
"We've played Goshen a bunch of times, I'm good friends with the coach, and it seems to a bit of a rivalry," Allen said. "But right now I'm just proud of my boys; we achieved our goals so far and ultimately we want to win the last one.
