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November 22, 2009

Chazy back in title game

By JOHN CORYER

ONEONTA -- Junior Matt Gravelle scored his first-career varsity goal Saturday afternoon.

And, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Gravelle's goal with 9:45 left in regulation snapped a 1-all tie and lifted the Chazy boys' soccer team to a 2-1 win over Section III's Hamilton in the NYSPHSAA Class D Final Four at the Oneonta Soccer Hall of Fame Field.

The victory sends the Eagles (19-0-2) into today's 1 p.m. championship game against Northville, which defeated Belfast in a shootout in the other semifinal. Northville and Belfast battled to a 2-all tie through regulation and overtime before Northville advanced in penalty kicks.

The win also gained a measure of revenge for Chazy's 4-3 overtime loss to Hamilton in last year's Class D championship game.

"It's hard to deny that we didn't get some satisfaction in beating Hamilton," said Chazy head coach Rob McAuliffe. "But, I'm more pleased to see us in the finals and we'll see how we do tomorrow."

The Section VII-champion Eagles trailed, 1-0-, at the half.

But, Chazy tied it just 1:08 into the second half when Kyle McCarthy scored off a Tyler Bulriss assist.

Bulriss gained possession of the ball on the right side and attacked the end line before sending in a shot off a bad angle. Hamilton keeper Nolan Finkel-Kinnon went down to stop it, but it deflected past him toward the far post when McCarthy was there to put it in the net.

"We were trying to get the ball to Bulriss because he was doing a good job beating their defender one-on-one," McAuliffe said. "He did so on that play as well. And, you have to give McCarthy credit for getting into the box."

The Eagles grabbed the lead for good at the 30:15 mark when John Tregan sent the ball in from the side. Finkel-Kinnon went up in a crowd to get it and the ball got free on the ground. Gravelle got to it first and scored from straight on.

"It was his first-ever goal," McAuliffe said. "I'm proud of him. I told the kids before the game that you never know in a state playoff game. Someone new can do something special."

Hamilton brought a 1-0 lead into halftime on Drew Thompson's goal at 23:33. Donald Meeks took a free kick, Thompson ran into it and headed the ball into the net.

"It was a great goal," McAuliffe said. "He was able to get inside on our player. There's not a lot we could have done. Give them credit.

"But, even though we were down, 1-0, I felt we had the better of play and were the better team. I felt the team that scored the next goal would win. Once we made it, 1-1, I felt we should win the game."

Shots on goal showed Chazy's edge in play as the Eagles finished with an 18-7 advantage. Austin Santor made four saves in net for Chazy and Finkel-Kinnon made 10 stops for Hamilton.

"Our kids played hard, with great determination," McAuliffe said. "They kept after it and I'm very pleased."

The only negative for the Eagles was a head injury suffered by Nathan Reynolds in the second half.

Reynolds' status for today is very much in doubt.

"It will hurt us if he's not able to play," McAuliffe said. "But, right now, we don't know if we will be able to play or not."

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