Hoosac Can't Finish in Tough Loss to Taconic
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Despite a big discrepency in shots and with a man advantage for the final 10 minutes of the game, the Hoosac Valley boys' soccer team couldn't avoid a 2-1 road loss to Taconic on Wednesday.The Hurricanes outshot the Braves 15-4 in the contest, but only managed one goal on a strike by sophomore midfielder Shaun Knapp in the 60th minute of play. Knapp finished off a beautiful cross from senior Aaron Wojtaszek, tying the game after Taconic's Brian Addy scored unassisted midway through the first half.
Hoosac, who is still searching for its first win of the season after starting the year 0-6-1, certainly didn't need what happened five minutes after Knapp got the game-tying goal. Hurricanes' goalie Tom Galisa punched a Braves' corner kick attempt into the air and, unfortunately for the 'Canes, the ball came right down to Tony Cruz, who headed it into the net to give Taconic (3-4-2) the win.
"Taconic finished on what seemed like every opportunity they had, and we decided not to finish on any of our opportunites but one," Hoosac head coach Nate Girard said. "We outplayed, outlasted and outworked Taconic and even when we were up a man in in the last 10 minutes after a Taconic player got a red card. My team continues to dominate play but not finish on multiple opportunties."
"We had a dozen chances inside the 18-yard box that resulted in two shots, one of which we scored upon. The team's lack of experience translates into a lack of confidence. In turn, we struggle to communicate and put the ball in the back of the net."
It was a frustrating day all around for Girard, who found it hard to believe that there were five cards given out to players in the game.
"The referee situation remained the same with the players working very hard and the referee's taking over," Girard said. "They handed out a total of five cards, one of which was a red, to plays that demanded either a warning or being quite fair."
Galisa finished with two saves in the game, while defender Seth Kuta also played a prominent role on the defensive end for the Hurricanes. Forrest Luscier made seven saves to earn the win for the Braves.
Hoosac next hosts Pittsfield at 4 p.m. on Saturday at a game held at the MCLA Athletic Complex.