Farmingdale ends Hicksville's undefeated season on penalty kicks
Undefeated season: Over. Playoffs: Over. Season: Over.
The No. 1 seed Hicksville Comets (16-1) season came to an end at Hofstra University last night as they were defeated by the Farmingdale Dalers, 2-1 (5-4 on penalty kicks) in the semifinals of the Nassau Division AA Playoffs.
The plan formulated by Dalers coach Kevin Shanley was to stop Comets scoring machine Tim Parker. The execution was entrusted to Mike Doller, Joseph Ostrander, Chris Giordano and Nick Licata.
"He's a great player and it was really hard covering him" said Dollar, who was sporting a bloody lip. "But I kept my head. I knew once we got to PK's we were gonna win because we practice them everyday."
Practice makes perfect because every Farmingdale player scored on their penalty kick.
The Dalers (10-2-5) have been waiting for this one all season as Shanley purposely scheduled difficult games this season.
"Parker almost finished us there in the end," Shanley said. "We bent but we didn't break . . . We have been through the wars and adversity and them scoring with three minutes left was one more punch in the face, but we survived it."
With time winding down in the first half, Greg Catalano put the Dalers on the board. Off a scramble in front of the Comets net, Catalano put the ball past Brian McPartland for a 1-0 lead.
The goal would stand up until the 37th minute of the second half when Peter DiLorenzo tied the score off a header from 10 yards out.
Parker had chances throughout the match including 11 minutes into the second overtime when he was alone on the right side and boomed a shot that sailed wide of the net. With 34 seconds left he came in alone and had his shot blocked.
"This one was tough," Comets coach Scott Starkey said. "I wasn't expecting our season to end so soon and like this.
Massapequa advances. The No. 3 seeded Massapequa Chiefs advanced to the championship with a 1-0 win over number No. 2 Great Neck South last night at Hofstra. Brian Bartichek scored the lone goal for the Chiefs. The Chiefs will play Farmingdale on Wednesday night at Hofstra at 5 p.m.
