Samson Heyer spent the whole bus ride from Westfield State to Amherst in disbelief Sunday.
Theo Scott’s 93rd-minute, double-overtime goal had just regained the Western Massachusetts Division 1 boys soccer championship for the Hurricanes, the tournament’s seventh seed.
They had beaten the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds en route to the title.
“The first couple days, I couldn’t believe it. It hasn’t really set in,” Heyer said. “Especially driving home, that bus ride home I was like ‘we’re really Western Mass. champions. It’s kind of surreal.”
The reality of the state tournament beckoned quickly.
Amherst practiced Monday but kept the proceedings light. The Hurricanes had played a double-overtime game the day before, after all.
Some players rested their legs. Others hit the pitch with coach Michael Rudd.
“Coach got in and played a few minutes,” Heyer said. “Just having fun enjoying ourselves before a big game (Wednesday).
Amherst (12-7-2) will face Central Mass. champion Westborough (13-5-4) at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Nashoba Regional in Bolton.
The Rangers were the ninth seed in the Central Mass. tournament and took out top-seeded St. John’s in the quarterfinals.
“A kid I know went to Westborough last year,” Heyer said. “They’re really good on set pieces like corners. They’re disciplined defensively.”
Westborough has allowed 20 goals in 23 games this year. The Rangers allowed a goal in three of their four tournament games.
Thomas VonDerVellen and Spencer Nagi led Westborough with seven goals each, while four other Rangers had at least four.
“I think our team can play with really any team in the state. Once we get into the game, the first 15 minutes you can tell a lot about a team,” Heyer said. “After that it’s adjustments. We’ll just go in try to play Amherst-style soccer.”
The Hurricanes like to keep the ball, but not for its own sake. They use their possession to attack.
Amherst will have to play without two of its top three scorers. Tim Felton and his 14 goals left the Western Mass. final during the last two minutes of regulation, and Josiah Wilson (eight goals) was injured in the first half.
Tate Rietkirk, who assisted Scott’s overtime goal, has seen a lot of action up top during the regular season. He’ll pair with Scott, Victor Wellman and others to finish off Amherst’s attacks with goals.
“We’re lucky enough to have lots of talented players in our team,” Rudd said.
Scott proved that against Minnechaug in the Western Mass. final.
“Theo’s goal took a while for me to process. Like everybody else I was incredibly happy, but it dawned on me pretty quickly that the team did something very special,” Rudd said. “To be able to achieve something like that with these particular players was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me as a coach.”
Rudd and the Hurricanes understand there’s still more to play for.
“I think that the team has an internal focus right now,” Rudd said. “We believe that if we play the way that we want to play, if we do what we want to do, we have a strong chance to be successful.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.