'We're both state champions': Poland boys soccer shares Class D championship with Chazy
GOSHEN - The soccer season ended with neither a win nor a loss for the Poland Tornadoes but the Section III champions brought home a share of New York's state Class D championship, a first for the boys' program at the school.
Poland played Section VII Chazy to a 2-2 overtime draw in Saturday's title match at Goshen High School. Afterward, the teams were declared co-champions.
"We're both state champions," Poland coach Greg Haver said. "That's the way we're looking at it."
"The biggest thing was coming home to a huge reception, one like I've never seen before in this town," added Haver, a Poland native whose own team was a sectional finalist as a player. "This means a lot to this community; it's great for both the school and the community."
More: Poland boys win 2-1, advance to play for state soccer championship Saturday
While the shared title is a first for Poland's boys, Chazy has shared two previous championships, and the Eagles also defeated Poland's Tornadoes in the 2005 and 2007 championship matches. Chazy also beat Poland in the semifinals in 2012; all three of those tournament matches had been shutouts.
"We scored first today," Haver said. "That was encouraging."
Poland (19-3-1) struck first when Carter Cookinham was fouled inside the Chazy box and converted on a penalty kick early in the first half for the Tornadoes.
Two minutes later, undefeated Chazy (19-0-2) tied the score with Dylan McAfee's header off a cross from Isaac Merrill.
"We couldn't even really enjoy that lead," Haver said.
The Eagles took a 2-1 lead when Pryce Parker scored a goal assisted by McAfee midway through the first half. They had a chance to add to the lead but Poland goalie Noah Lamphere stopped a penalty kick in the opening five minutes of the second half.
Poland pulled even with a Daetyn Jones goal in the 71st minute of play.
From there, the teams went to two 15-minute overtime periods that could not break the deadlock with a golden goal. Each team had its chances in extended play, including a Chazy shot off the crossbar at the start of the second period.
Class AAA Baldwinsville defeated Section VI Lancaster 2-0 later Saturday and will represent Section III in another final Sunday against Section XI Brentwood. Class A Westhill, Section III's other semifinalist, was beaten Friday by Section V Aquinas Institute from Rochester which won a championship Saturday with a 3-2 victory in double overtime.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Poland, Chazy boys share New York's Class D soccer championship
