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Comsewogue No. 1 again in New York State
BOYS SOCCER
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The 2009 Comsewogue boys' soccer team has done it again, the second year in a row. The Warriors defeated Pittsford Mendon on penalty kicks on Nov. 21 and then followed up with a 2-0 win over New Hartford at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta Sunday to earn the New York State Class A championship title.
"Wow, two years in a row is quite an accomplishment," said Comsewogue head coach Dan Costello. "It's a great feeling, something that we had set our sights on all year. We just needed to stay focused and be ready to play the type of game we wanted to play. It's hard to explain. It's just a great feeling that we won it again."
After a scoreless first half in the state final in which the Warriors dominated from the start but couldn't find the back of the net, Comsewogue's Keith Vigorito finally broke the deadlock when he scored at 28:46 in the second half.
For Vigorito it was his 26th goal of the season and the 50th in his varsity career. That would be all the offense the Warriors would need but they added an insurance goal with 2:53 remaining through Mackie Magoulas. Comsewogue defender Chase Lipshie was named the most valuable player for the second year in a row.
The Warriors opened their season dropping the first nonleague game to Newfield and tying with Ward Melville. From then on, they were unstoppable, causing havoc in League V and finishing with an undefeated 14-0 record.
But victory nearly eluded the Warriors during the semifinal game against Pittsford Mendon where it took double overtime and a penalty kick session to decide the winner. In that nail-biting finale Matt Delph won the game on Comsewogue's final penalty kick to send the Warriors to the finals. Josh Butzke and Magoulas also scored in the penalty session.
"It was one of the most exciting games I've ever coached," said Costello. "Over the last four years all of this year's final four teams have won a state championship, and that semifinal game was played like a championship game. The amount of heart and soul the boys dedicated to that game was immeasurable."
Costello didn't seem to be too concerned about a possible letdown against New Hartford the following day. "We knew the boys were united," the coach said. "Everyone was so bonded after that game. We have a deep bench and we used 17 boys in that semifinal game. To put in as many players as we did had to be an advantage for us."
The Warriors used the momentum from that win and carried it into the championship game. Comsewogue applied tremendous pressure on New Hartford keeper Tom Gilroy (eight saves) but came away empty. Empty, that is, until Vigorito scored in the second half.
"Last year we were trying to build a championship culture here," said Costello. "Now we are just starting a tradition."
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