By SHANE COUGHLIN Staff Writer
The fourth-seeded Hopkins men’s soccer team concluded their season at 11-5-3 after the top ranked Fords of Haverford College took the Centennial Conference semifinal by a score of 4-1.
Haverford extended its winning streak to 13 games while the Jays finish their most successful season since 2010.
“No matter what grade you are in, the end of the season is always full of emotion,” senior defender Kenny DeStefano said. “I think our team is leaving this season with our heads held up.”
The hosting Fords were able to strike first as junior Sam Yarosh nailed the top right corner on the edge of the box only seven minutes into the game. Both his goal and the assist from teammate sophomore Will Corkery put them at the top of the Conference as statistical leaders in those respective categories.
As the half progressed Hopkins was able to battle back with junior Victor Osio landing the equalizer in the 38th minute on an unassisted score from about 18 yards out.
With the score tied 1-1 approaching the half, Haverford lashed out with a pair of goals before intermission. Corkery got involved again after the early assist by scoring on a direct kick for the go ahead goal and then with only seconds remaining, freshman Brady Seitz sent a well-placed pass to sophomore Ben Field, who finished with a low shot to the far post.
The second half opened at 3-1, and so it stayed until the 68th minute of play where the Fords put away its final goal of the game with junior Tejan Walcott assisted by senior Colin Seitz. The Jays offense continued applying consistent pressure even totalling more shots and corner kicks than their opponent did that afternoon, but they could not overcome the three score deficit. In order to stifle the attack, opposing goalie Sam Miller had a terrific game totaling seven saves including five in the second half with counterpart Hopkins junior goalie Bryan See finishing with four.
“Both teams created chances; They were just able to put theirs away,” said Osio.
After their victory against Hopkins, Haverford took on and defeated the Dickinson College Red Devils for the Centennial conference championship. They then earned the top ranking and three byes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) D-III Championship and will take on the winner of the game between the Methodist University Monarchs and the Washington and Lee University Generals.
Seven seniors will graduate while maintaining their starting goalkeeper as well as current junior Samy Ramadane, the team leader in points and shots, and freshmen midfielder Cole Rosenberger, one of three players to start all 19 games.
“It’s going to be... different when our current seniors aren’t there next season,” said Osio. “I learned a lot from them, and I’m going to really miss playing with them.”
“Although our season was cut shorter than we had hoped, some of our last games were the best games I’ve seen in my four years playing here” said DeStefano. “We really came together and played some great soccer at the end of the season, and I know the younger guys are ready to keep that momentum into next year.”
“I’m proud of our team’s commitment to tactical development,” said Ramadane, adding that this development is “a quality that is key to success and that [the team] will continue to build on in the future.”
