SPRINGFIELD — In an evenly matched bout between the Amherst Regional and Longmeadow boys soccer teams, it took double overtime to decide who was going to the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament championship.
Second-seeded Longmeadow dethroned the No. 3 Hurricanes, 2-1, in extra sessions to advance.
The Lancers (16-2-2) will face No. 4 West Springfield (11-5-4) over the weekend in the title game.
The Hurricanes finished 14-5-0.
“I’m really proud of how these guys played,” Amherst coach Michael Rudd said. “They’re a great group of guys, I’m especially going to miss the seniors; that’s the saddest part of all of this. I’m not going to be able to coach these guys again.”
The match started off intense and fast. The Lancers struck first eight minutes into the game with a goal from senior midfielder Aidan Eagan. Amherst senior goalie Alberto Morales-Fernandez made the initial save on a shot taken by Spencer Robbins, but could not stop the second effort by Eagan.
The rest of the first half was played mainly from the neutral zone filled with chippy play. There was a stoppage of play 19 minutes into the game when Joseph Cardaropoli from Longmeadow and Itai Zilberstein of Amherst collided at midfield going for a header. After about five minutes both players walked off the field on their own power.
Both teams allowed very little scoring chances the rest of the first half.
“We struggled the first half,” Rudd said. “I think (Longmeadow’s) athleticism, organization and pressure on the ball hurt us and it took us a while to get used to.”
Amherst picked it up in the second half. Sophomore forward Brayan Rivas Martinez landed three shots on net within the first 10 minutes, but the Hurricanes still trailed 1-0.
Morales-Fernandez kept the Hurricanes in the game with his goaltending. At one point he faced back-to-back shots from within 10 yards and stopped both.
With 10 minutes remaining the Hurricanes attacked and landed five shots on net. Senior Lucas Willocq hurled his body across the box in an attempt to land a header but missed.
The Hurricanes tied the game with minutes left. Senior Theo Scott obtained the rebound and had an empty net to bury his goal. The Amherst crowd went wild as Scott darted over to them to celebrate.
“In the second half we played with a bit more confidence, aggression, and combination play,” Rudd said. “It just felt like things were going better and coming easier.”
The first 10-minute overtime was dominated by the Lancers. It took five minutes for the Hurricanes to get the ball past midfield. After that the fast-moving Amherst offense landed three quick shots, putting the Lancers back on their heels.
It took five minutes into the second overtime for Longmeadow to advance. Off a thrown-in by senior William Echeverria, Eagan headed the ball passed Morales-Fernandez for the winner.
It was the final game Amherst seniors Colton Spirko, Scott, Morales-Fernandez, Luca LaRaja, F, Willocq, Victor Wellman, Tate Rietkerk, Ethan Lefebvre, John Swanson, Luke Sedor Protti, Alex Martinez, Eskill Scott, Marco Soares Delgado.