This week, Cluster soccer finished the season with two exciting semi-final games and a final game under the lights on Wednesday. The first round went as expected, with FLG, ABB, WQS and WQN advancing. In the semis, FLG played WQS and ABB matched up against WQN. Both games were intense. FLG and WQS had one of the hardest fought games I have ever seen in my life. Sam Kennedy ’05, Beau Frecker ’05 and Nick Shea ’05 were huge contributors to WQS, and helped energize a team of very determined and able players. WQS did score one goal, but it was pulled back on a late (and controversial) call where there was an illegal tackle in the box before the goal. I do wish to commend WQS for a hard fought game that easily could, and possibly should have gone their way. The game ended tied at 0-0, and went to two scoreless overtimes. Finally, the game had to be decided with penalty kicks. Only three were made out of 10, due to amazing saves by both goalies, Shea and Harry Goldstein ’05. Greg Feldmann ’05 scored the only goal for WQS, and Goldstein and Elliot Beck ’05 scored for FLG the other two goals that clinched their team’s spot in the finals. ABB and WQN also had an incredibly close game. ABB, anchored by veteran sweeper Alex Bois ’05 and forward Marc Asch ’05, was strong on both ends but did not manage to score on WQN goalie Julian Dames ’05. Surprisingly, neither did WQN’s amazing offense of Ned Henningsen ’05, Yannick Janin ’05 and Alexis Malozemoff ’05. This game also ended scoreless and again was decided by penalty kicks. ABB just couldn’t make it, losing 4-3. In the finals, WQN competed against FLG. The game started off close. At about a minute 20, WQN lofted one over Goldstein, who was out of the net to cover the ball. FLG had some scoring chances, but were not able to finish. Halfway through the second half, Elias Feghali ’05 had a beautiful shot, shooting it into the top left corner of the goal. WQN took a 2-0 lead. Finally, with 12 minutes left, Mike Preston ’05 headed a cross into the crossbar and then followed it up with a put away, scoring a goal for FLG. Despite opportunities on both sides, the goalies made amazing saves and kept the game close until the buzzer. WQN squeaked out a 2-1 victory and ended the season as Cluster Soccer Champions.
